Sight
Gwanghwamun Square
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Gwanghwamun Square is a public square in central Seoul, located in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace. It features statues of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and King Sejong the Great, along with a water fountain and waterways. The square was redesigned and expanded in 2022, with pedestrian space more than doubled.
Don't miss
- Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, erected on 27 April 1968
- 6.2-meter-high bronze statue of King Sejong the Great, unveiled on 9 October 2009
- 12.23 Fountain, with water jets rising 18 meters and 300 smaller jets, named after Admiral Yi's 23 battles with 12 warships
- A 365-meter-long waterway along the east side, two centimeters deep, with 617 stones recording major events from 1392 to 2008
- Exhibition hall and museum beneath the statues memorializing Admiral Yi Sun-sin and King Sejong
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Gwanghwamun Square
You can usually visit on your own. A tour is worth it for transport, a guide, or combining nearby sights into one day.
Cheapest way inGyeongbokgung Palace Hanbok Rental Experience in Seoul4.1★ · 92 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$7 per personSee dates →
Best full dayBest DMZ Tour Korea from Seoul (Suspension Bridge & JSA Museum)4.9★ · 47,835 travelers7-9 hoursFree cancellationFrom$50 per personSee dates →
Private & flexibleSeoul: DMZ with Retired Military Officer & North Korean Defector5★ · 3,852 travelers6-7 hoursFree cancellationFrom$50 per personSee dates →Getting there
Know before you go
- The square is a designated smoke-free zone; violators are fined.
- Rallies and demonstrations are illegal; the square is reserved for cultural exhibitions.
- Gwanghwamun Station on Seoul Subway Line 5, Exit 9, connects via an underground walkway called Haechi Madang.
A bit of history
The area has been a central point of Seoul since the Joseon period. It was neglected during Japanese colonial rule, damaged during the Korean War, and later used as a 16-lane roadway. A pedestrian-friendly renovation was announced in 2004, and the square opened on 1 August 2009 after 15 months of construction. It was closed from late 2020 to August 2022 for a redesign that reduced traffic lanes and expanded the plaza.
Common questions
Can I visit the exhibition hall under the statues?
Yes, there is a small exhibition hall and museum beneath the statues that memorialize Admiral Yi Sun-sin and King Sejong.
Is the square open to traffic?
A 550-meter section of Sejong-ro was designated pedestrian- and cyclist-only on a trial basis starting 23 September 2012. The square itself is pedestrian-friendly.
What events have been held here?
The square is the starting location of the annual Seoul International Marathon. It has also hosted an open-air ice rink, street cheering for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and was a major site of the 2016–17 protests.
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