Seoul’s Beating Heart: Gwanghwamun Square and Cheonggyecheon

K-Culture & Travel | 2025-10-27 17:48:40
[mediK / HEALTH IN NEWS] Cutting through the capital’s core, Gwanghwamun Square and Cheonggye Square stitch together Korea’s past and present in a single, vibrant thread. For locals and travelers alike, these are the spots where “Seoul” comes alive in its purest form.

History and Dignity at the King’s Gate: Gwanghwamun Square

Gwanghwamun Square stretches from the grand front gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace—Gwanghwamun itself—down to the Sejong-daero intersection, the city’s ceremonial spine. At its heart stand statues of two Joseon-era giants: King Sejong the Great and Admiral Yi Sun-sin. More than monuments, they embody Korean pride and identity.

Flanking the plaza are heavyweights of culture and governance: Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Kyobo Bookstore (Gwanghwamun branch), and the Government Seoul Complex. Weekends bring buskers, flea markets, and pop-up exhibits; the space morphs into an open-air cultural salon. After dark, subtle lighting drapes the square in quiet elegance, a stark contrast to its daytime buzz.

Opened in 1981, Kyobo Bookstore Gwanghwamun is the nation’s original mega-bookshop and a living emblem of Seoul’s intellectual pulse. Steps from the square, it blends books, art, and downtime into an urban cultural oasis.

A view of Gwanghwamun Square. (Photo courtesy of Visit Korea)
A view of Gwanghwamun Square. (Photo courtesy of Visit Korea)


Where the City Breathes: Cheonggye Square and Cheonggyecheon Stream

A short stroll south from Gwanghwamun’s end lies Cheonggye Square, the birthplace of Cheonggyecheon. This is Seoul’s favorite downtown promenade. The gentle murmur of water and a leafy path carve out rare calm amid skyscrapers.

Resurrected in 2005 after decades buried beneath a highway, Cheonggyecheon is Seoul’s flagship eco-revival. It doubles as both restored habitat and a community gathering space. By day, sunlight dances on the water while children splash; by night, lights ripple across the surface for a romantic tableau.

Night view of Cheonggyecheon Stream near Cheonggye Square. (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)
Night view of Cheonggyecheon Stream near Cheonggye Square. (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)


Nearby Gems Within a 10-Minute Radius

Orbiting these twin squares, a constellation of sights awaits on foot: Gyeongbokgung Palace, the stone-wall trail of Deoksugung Palace, Sejong Center, and the Seoul Museum of History. Gwanghwamun’s café row serves everything from traditional teas to single-origin pours. Along Cheonggyecheon, restaurants dish out bibimbap (mixed rice bowl) and bulgogi (grilled marinated beef), drawing long lines of international visitors.

Oh Ha Eun medi·K TEAM press@themedik.kr
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Seoul’s Beating Heart: Gwanghwamun Square and Cheonggyecheon
Cutting through the capital’s core, Gwanghwamun Square and Cheonggye Square stitch together Korea’s past and present in a single, vibrant thread. For locals and travelers alike, these are the spots where “Seoul” comes alive in its purest form.History and Dignity at the King’s Gate: Gwanghwamun SquareGwanghwamun Square stretches from the grand front gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace—Gwanghwamun itself—down to the Sejong-daero intersection, the city’s ceremonial spine. At its heart stand statues of two Joseon-era giants: King Sejong the Great and Admiral Yi Sun-sin. More than monuments, they

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