Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.
Admiral Yis statue to undergo major repair
By Kwon Mee-yoo
The statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin (1545-1598) standing in Gwanghwamun Plaza in central Seoul will go through major restoration for the first time in 42 years for about 40 days.
The statue will be moved away from the square for overall renovation from Nov. 13 to Dec. 22.
The admiral from the mid-Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) is one of the nation’s most respected historical figures. He is known for his part in several naval battles and the invention of the turtle ship.
The statue of Yi was erected in 1968 in its current spot in the center of the capital. This is the first time for the statue to be moved since it was erected.
Seoul City said the four-phased repair project aims to mend the statue while maintaining its original form.
The statue currently does not have any supports inside, so experts will put in a structure inside to play the role of a backbone.
They will also weld any holes and cracks and replace worn castings.
The final process will be making the statue earthquake proof at its base.
“We’ve concluded that it is impossible and dangerous to clean the statue with high-pressure sand in the middle of downtown. So we decided to take the statue to a casting factory,” a city official said.
The city conducted a close examination of the statue earlier this year and found that it needs some mending.
“We will set up a temporary screen in the place of the statue during the conservation process,” the official said. “It might cause a slight eyesore at the plaza during the period, but we ask for the cooperation of citizens and tourists as it is a part of efforts to preserve our cultural heritage.”