Gwanghwamun: Main entrance to Gyeongbok Palace

By Shim Hyun-chul

Gwanghwamun is the main gate of Gyeongbok Palace, but due to its frequent vandalism, it was never recognized as a national landmark as it should have been over the years.

Now, it has recovered its righteous location, while boasting new grandeur and grace.

The eaves resemble the wings of a bird that is about to fly away, while the flamboyant ``dancheong’’ or traditional coloring technique adds breathtaking beauty to the already elaborate décor.

One of the foremost historical sites has finally been unveiled on Aug. 15 after a three-year-and-eight month renovation.

Gwanghwamun was first built in 1395, the fourth year of King Taejo of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). It was destroyed during a Japanese invasion in the late 16th century and reconstructed in the reign of King Gojong in 1865.

The building’s location was shifted to the north of Geonchunmun, the east gate of the palace, by the Japanese in the 1920s.

The gate was destroyed again during the Korean War but rebuilt as a concrete structure in 1968, and a signboard written in hangeul (the Korean alphabet) by former President Park Chung-hee was hung there. In the renovations, the location was also moved 11.2 meters to the north and 13.5 meters to the east and also rotated 3.75 degrees.

The new gate retains the original location and shape as it was rebuilt in 1865. The structure is now in place directly in line with ``Heungnyemun’’ (the first gate inside the palace wall at the front) and ``Geunjeongjeon’’ (the main throne hall).

The gate has been rebuilt as a double-roofed pavilion over three arched openings set in a high stone foundation.

The gate restoration project was completed at the cost of some 28 billion won and used 181,075 pine trees and 26,185 roofing tiles under the supervision of head carpenter Shin Eung-soo, designated as Intangible Cultural Property No. 74.

The signboard decorated with flamboyant dancheong and Chinese characters reading ``Gwanghwamun’’ with a strong stroke on a white backdrop, was also added during the restoration.

Based on the lettering by Im Tae-young, a general who was in charge of the rebuilding under the reign of King Gojong, the plaque was re-created by ``gakjajang,’’ or calligraphic engraving master Oh Ok-jin, designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 106, while Yang Yong-ho, a ``dancheong’’ master, painted the board in a traditional manner.

Near the masonry of the gate, there are three round gates called the ``Hongyemun,’’ which means rainbow. The center gate was for the king, while the ones on the left and right side were for the servants and officials. There is also a statue of ``haetae,’’ a mythical creature that looks like a lion, in front of the gate. Also called the ``haechi,’’ the imaginary animal is known to be a guardian against disasters and is a symbol of metropolitan Seoul.