Gwanghwamun Square - The King Who Gave Korea Its Alphabet

Photo: Republic of Korea, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)

A stop on Seoul Palaces, Bukchon and Insadong, a free self-guided tour.

You are standing before King Sejong the Great, the fourth ruler of the Joseon dynasty, seated on his throne in gilded bronze with a book in one hand. Ask Koreans to name their greatest king and most will pick him. In 1443 he and his scholars created Hangul, the Korean alphabet, so that ordinary people could learn to read and write without years of studying Chinese characters. He announced it to the public in 1446.

The statue was unveiled on October 9, 2009 - Hangul Day, the national holiday that celebrates the alphabet. Look at the small models in front of him: a celestial globe, a rain gauge and a sundial, reminders of the science his court sponsored. An exhibition on his life lies just below the plaza.

Farther south stands Admiral Yi Sun-sin, who fought off Japanese fleets in the 1590s. Now look past Sejong to the north: the gate at the end of the boulevard leads to the palace where he ruled.

Getting here: From Gwanghwamun Station on subway Line 5, follow the exit signs for Gwanghwamun Square. The seated golden statue is in the middle of the plaza, facing south.

Did you know?: Sejong also appears on the front of South Korea's 10,000 won note, so you may already be carrying his portrait in your wallet.

Photo op: Stand a few steps south of the statue and frame Sejong with Gwanghwamun Gate and the peak of Bugaksan rising behind him.

More on Wikipedia: Gwanghwamun Square · Sejong the Great · Hangul · Yi Sun-sin

Gwanghwamun Square - The King Who Gave Korea Its Alphabet

Stops on this tour