In the Gwanghwamun area of Seoul, various public installation sculptures can be found, including the well-known “Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin” and “Statue of King Sejong the Great” located in Gwanghwamun Square. Other public sculptures are also scattered throughout the area.
Behind the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Gwanghwamun, a small park houses several public sculptures, including the “Gwanghwamun hahaha sculpture.” This structure consists of the Korean character “ㅎ” stretched out in a row, which may represent laughter. This simple yet effective sculpture can evoke a sense of joy in those who appreciate it.
Next to the “hahaha” sculpture, there is a human-like statue of a girl reading a book. The book she is reading is “Foreword” by poet Yoon Dong-ju. Although she is not a real person, the statue is so lifelike that it can almost fool the observer into believing it is a living, breathing individual.
Exploring the Gwanghwamun area can be a delightful experience as many interesting and meaningful public sculptures can be found, some of which are hidden in unexpected places.