Gwanghwamun Square

_hyogeun_

From a defensive standpoint, the basin shape of Hanyang (old Seoul) was ideal, but it was disadvantaged in terms of external exchange. Due to the lack of a vast plain behind Hanyang, it had to bring in supplies from outside, and waterways were the best method of transport at the time, making it crucial to secure a land route connecting Hanyang Fortress and the Han River.

There were nine land routes from the Han River to the fortress city. Among them, the route from Yongsan through Namdaemun to Gyeongbokgung Palace was the shortest and without mountains, making it the quickest way to enter the city. Therefore, the path connecting Yongsan-Seoul Station-Namdaemun-Gwanghwamun-Gyeongbokgung became one of the most important routes in Joseon.

Good roads for us were also favorable for outsiders. During the Japanese occupation, Japan seized this route by occupying Yongsan as a military base, and at the end of the occupation, attempted to sever the connection by establishing the Government-General of Korea. Thus, at that time, this route held more than just physical significance for us.

Knowing the reasons, endless efforts have been made to restore and preserve the original form of the road. The Government-General of Korea was demolished to reconnect the line, and Gwanghwamun Square was reorganized to make the thinned line thick again.

Regrettably, Gwanghwamun Square, created in 2009, reminded one of Nodeul Island, leading to an urban disconnect, and strayed from the concept of a 'square' that many could visit and enjoy without hesitation. It felt somewhat neglected, a space for whom was uncertain, visually connecting the lines but experientially still a dead space to us.

This place has been newly renovated this August.

The square, which was central, has expanded towards the Sejong Cultural Hall. People can enjoy the expanded square without any burden, and no longer need to endure the hassle of waiting for pedestrian crossings. The accessibility has improved incomparably to before, as it is now directly connected to the subway station. The mercilessly laid roads for the sake of modern city construction have been cleared to reveal relics that enrich the square, adding an element of fun in tracing the echoes of the era.

Children running around the expanded square freely, parents comfortably watching them, couples holding hands on a date, and foreigners reading books in sunglasses, reminiscent of New York's Central Park. The square now fulfills its role as a square incomparably better than before.

So far, we have made a lot of effort in the name of preserving lines, but only valued the view from the map, neglecting the experience of the users. The city, designed from a godlike perspective with the belief that one's logic is superior, ultimately created dead spaces, and we have borne the consequences.

After learning much through suffering, we have stopped repeating the same mistakes by not just looking down from above but coming down and looking ahead. And the result will enrich our lives with spaces that live up to their names and locations.

Photos, Text: Hyogeun Shin (@_hyogeun_)

#Space_Providing_Good_Experience

Sejong Story, 175 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul