The King’s Road Has Been Restored After More Than 100 Years

South Korea’s “King’s Road, “which was buried under Japanese colonial railroad tracks, has been restored after more than 100 years.

What’s 월대(Woldae)?

A woldae is a wide platform placed in front of an important building, such as the main hall of a palace. Woldae was used as a place for the king and people to communicate during nationally important events.

Gwanghwamun’s Woldae was damaged during the Japanese occupation in the 1920s by the installation of railroad tracks, and the Cultural Heritage Administration has been restoring it since 2006. Gwanghwamun Woldae is unique in that it is the only palace gate to have a railing stone and a raised platform.

The Gwanghwamun Sign Has Also Been Replaced

The previous sign was created in 2010 when Gwanghwamun was moved to its current location, but it cracked within three months of its restoration, causing controversy. So it was restored and replaced, this time with gold lettering on a black background.

The Gwanghwamun Sign : Before and After

Gwanghwamun Before Woldae Disappeared In The Early 1920s