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'The King Sejong Story' to Open on Hangeul Day, Oct. 9
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
The face of Seoul is quickly changing. Seoul Plaza and Cheonggye Stream added a batch of green and blue to the heart of the city while the recently unveiled Gwanghwamun Plaza in Sejongno offers a break between the urban traffic.
But according to Lee Chung-sung, 64, president of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, the plaza makes for ``only one-quarter'' of downtown Seoul's facelift.
The second quarter will be unveiled on Hangeul Day, commemorating the birth of the Korean writing system, on Oct. 9.
The long-awaited bronze statue of the Great King Sejong (1418-50), who is credited with promulgating ``Hangeul'' with a group of scholars, will join that of Admiral Yi Sun-shin on Gwanghwamun Plaza. It will be the landmark for entry into ``The King Sejong Story,'' an artistic underground museum space for pedestrians below the plaza's bed of flowers and water fountain streams.
It is not difficult to find exhibitions feting one of the most visionary rulers of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910).
But what differentiates The King Sejong Story from a corner in the national museum is that it brings culture and history into the heart of everyday urban life, by transforming a mundane underground passage into a living area for design, culture and history.
``I am crazy about King Sejong,'' Lee told The Korea Times in a recent interview at the Sejong Center. A quote by the late sovereign preaching the importance of diligence was framed by Lee's desk.
``Without Hangeul, Korea's industrialization and democratization would have been impossible. I'm not a linguist but looking into King Sejong's life and the power of Hangeul, I've learned what the writing system means to a people and culture,'' he said.
The Sejong Story will showcase the life and times of the king, with an emphasis on the beauty and significance of Hangeul.
``Korea is one of the top economies of the world. But the sense of culture and history is rather absent in our everyday lives. Arts and culture were long regarded as something remote that can only be enjoyed in a museum or such, but it's about time for art and design to become part of everyday life.''
``The King Sejong Story will be a place where history will breathe in the modern language, through state of the art multimedia installations,'' said Lee, a studio art major and former board member of the International Design School for Advanced Studies in Seoul.
If Gwanghwamun Plaza and the King Sejong Story make up for ``half'' of revamping the area then the other two quarters, said Lee, are Seoul city's Sejong Belt project and the mindset of Seoulites.
Sejong Belt is a pan-city initiative to interconnect the 30 arts and cultural organizations scattered around the Gwanghwamun region ― performance halls, museums and art galleries which will include the King Sejong Story.
``Last but not least, Seoul as a whole must open up and endorse creativity,'' he said. An underground passageway such as the King Sejong Story, where busy corporate workers could become naturally exposed to cultural content, is one way to begin.
King Sejong's Spirit in Seoul
``The organizing committee includes experts from academia and related organizations as well as designers, who all got together to capture the spirit of King Sejong in a space where modern Koreans can be inspired,'' said Lee.
With support from Seoul City, the Sejong Center and related experts got together to tell the king's life story. The advisory committee includes Lee Bae-yong, president of Ewha Womans University; Gwon Jae-il, director general of the National Institute of the Korean Language; and Kim Seung-gon, president of the Korean Language Society, among others.
There will be five permanent multimedia exhibition halls focusing on King Sejong's humanity, democratic ideals, sagacious leadership, the creation of hangeul and developments in science and the arts under his rule. A sixth zone will be allotted for temporary exhibitions.
The first exhibition space will introduce visitors to the life and times of the fourth king of the Joseon era, beginning from when he was a prince who was third in line to the throne to his ascendancy to the throne. Video clips will present the more private aspect of the king's life, such as his hobbies, in juxtaposition with his stately affairs and contemporary world events. Visitors will also be able to look up information on artifacts and people related to the late ruler.
The second part will feature a graphic panel of the monarch in his state attire. It will depict his ``minbon-sasang'' or great devotion to the welfare of the people that can be likened to the ideals of modern democracy.
The next hall will highlight the creative process of the birth of Hangeul. The zone will include models and graphic panels that will facilitate understanding of the process.
Hangeul was originally called ``Hunminjeongeum,'' meaning ``Proper Sounds to Instruct the People.'' The namesake book that offers a theoretical explanation of the Hangeul system will be on display in two versions ― the original or ``haerye'' form as well as one written with the Korean annotation of Chinese.
The hall will also present the scientific value of Hangeul and its significance in the digital age. Visitors can learn what linguists around the world have to say about the alphabet and how the Indonesian tribe of Bauer and Bauer recently adopted it as its official writing system.
The reign of King Sejong is widely recognized as the Korean equivalent of the Italian Renaissance. In addition to Hangeul, the visionary ruler supported scientific studies and inventions including the development of the sundial, water clock and rain gauge. He is also known for prompting development in the arts. The fourth corner will tell this part of the story through hologram installations. Visitors can also learn about the king's lesser known projects involving national defense and Korean music through interactive facilities.
The project concludes with a thematic overview of the king's leadership, and modern Koreans will be able relate with the sovereign's smart ``management know-how,'' from personal growth and intellectual pursuit to diplomatic skills. There will be videos highlighting the beauty of Hangeul as well as models of valuable cultural assets from the period.
The exhibition will cater to foreign visitors by providing an audio guide system in English, Japanese, Chinese and Spanish.
The King Sejong Story will host educational programs for the public. There will be lectures on the ``Annals of King Sejong'' (part of the ``Annals of the Joseon Kingdom,'' a massive historical archive that details almost every major event under each king) where participants can explore various aspects of Hangeul, and guided tours.
The underground space will also include a corner dubbed ``New Light, Seoul'' presenting the evolution of the city from when it was King Sejong's hometown to today. Antique maps and photographs will be on display as well as inspired images that look into the future look of Seoul.
The King Sejong Story will be open Tuesdays through Sundays, from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. It will be accessible from three exits located by the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, the KT building and the statue.