Sungnyemun, Korea’s national treasure No. 1. reopened

Sungnyemun opens 'a new era of hope'

President Park Geun-hye said that she will “open a new era of cultural renaissance and happiness” at a ceremony to mark the reopening of Sungnyemun, Korea’s national treasure No. 1. 

"The rebirth of Sungnyemun means more than just the restoration of a cultural asset," said President Park at a May 4 ceremony to mark the historic reopening of the gate. "It heightens the price of the Korean people once again and will serve as a gate to a new era of hope." Sungnyemun, also known as "Namdaemun" (Great South Gate) due to its location at the southern end of the traditional boundary of Seoul, has been recognized as a mental anchor for Koreans, undergoing important historic moments for more than 600 years. The gate was severely destroyed by a tragic fire in February 2008, shocking many Koreans. Five years later, however, the gate was brought back to life at last thanks to the restoration based on historic research, the efforts of master artisans, national support, and a countrywide fundraising campaign. 

The ceremony was composed of a pre-ceremony performance, a main ceremony, and an after-ceremony festival. In the pre-ceremony events, a group of children sang joyful songs to celebrate the reopening while traditional Korean dance performers staged "cheondoje," a shamanism-based ritual dance performed to remove misfortune. 

The main ceremony comprised of video footage to introduce the restoration process, the signboard unveiling ceremony, a congratulatory speech by the president, a "flower of hope" planting event, celebration dance performances, a "box of hope" sealing, and the official gate opening. 

"Sungnyemun is Korea's face which symbolizes the spirit and identity of the Korean people," said President Park. "The rebirth of the gate is the accomplishment of all Koreans." 

She also praised the efforts of master artisans, the nationwide support, and donors of pine trees for the rebuilding of the gate. 

"To become a country of truly powerful culture, preservation and succession of traditional cultural assets are important," said the president, mentioning "opening an era of cultural renaissance," one of the main visions of her administration. 

After delivering the speech, President Park planted a flower -- mukdenia rossii -- with two teenagers in the grass garden on the south side of the gate. This flower is called "Himangkkot," meaning "a flower of hope" in Korean, as its red flower bud comes out of the soil after the cold winter. 

President Park (center) passes Himangbogam containing postcards expressing the hopes and wishes of citizens to a carrier after sealing it.

President Park sealed Himangbogam (meaning “box of hope”) which contained postcards expressing the hopes and wishes of citizens. These postcards were collected through the Postbox of Hope campaign which was held from April 22 to May 2 at 100 postboxes located across the country. The collected postcards were then put in a box shaped like Uigwe, a collection of royal protocols from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). 

About 700 people attended the ceremony, which was held under the theme of “Sungnyemun opens up a new door to culture.” The ceremony attendees included Minister of Culture, Sports & Tourism Yoo Jinryong and Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) administrator Byun Youngsup, as well as other government officials and the media. A large crowd surrounded the gate to watch the historic moment of reopening. 

"I am honored and proud to perform at such a big national event today," said Kang Hyun-jung, who performed a traditional dance titled "Heoncheonhwa" ("dedicating flowers and wishing for good luck") at the ceremony along with other dancers from the Korea National University of Arts. "I hope this event can teach us a lesson about not only the restoration of cultural assets but also the importance of cultural heritage so that we can prevent the recurring of this tragic accident, develop Korean culture, and open the door of cultural renaissance." 

Dancers celebrate the reopening of Sungnyemun on May 4.

The festive mood continued after the ceremony, moving to Gwanghwamun Plaza, central Seoul, where a variety of traditional folk performances celebrated the reopening of the gate. 

The newly opened gate regained its glorious shape through traditional architectural methods. Focusing on the original shape of the gate when it was first built in 1398, the CHA said the restoration of the gate was carried out through a four-part “disassembling-historic research-analysis-restoring” process backed by state-of-the-art technology. Six master artisans also became one mind for the restoration. They followed traditional methods and used original materials to make roof tiles, paint dancheong (traditional decorative coloring), and reused the bunt wood as much as possible to restore the gate. 

The rebuilt gate has a 53-meter-long wall in the east and 16-meter wall in the west, both of which were destroyed by Japan in 1907. The signboard of the gate, initially written by Grand Prince Yangnyeong, a Joseon Dynasty prince (1394-1462), was also restored based on the rubbing at Jideoksa Temple, Yangnyeong’s shrine, to revive its original shape. The restored gate opened to the public on May 5.