◀ again ▶
Between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon in Seoul, there is a land that has been surrounded by a high wall for a century and has not been seen inside.
It is the land of Songhyeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the name derives from ‘a thick pine forest’.
The Joseon royal family, Japanese imperialism, the US military government and large national corporations have owned or used this land one after another, but it is a place where citizens cannot set foot.
Today I have finally returned to the arms of the citizens.
Let’s connect on the spot.
Reporter Ji Yoon-soo, citizens continue to visit.
◀ reporter ▶
Right.
An opening ceremony and concert were held just now to commemorate the opening of the Songhyeon-dong site with the participation of 300 citizens.
It was difficult to even look inside due to the 4 meter high fence, but it will be open to the public from today.
If you look around, you can see that the green area is about three times bigger than that of Seoul Plaza.
In the center, moon-shaped lights illuminate the autumn night.
On Friday evening, when the Hangeul Day festival begins, the townspeople who have visited with their families and friends are strolling.
This site in Songhyeon-dong served as a buffer zone for Gyeongbokgung because there was a pine forest during the Joseon dynasty.
However, during the Japanese colonial period, it was used as the residence of the Japanese bank Siksan.
Even after the liberation the residence of the American embassy was built, so it was a place where citizens could not set foot.
Subsequently, Samsung and Korean Air bought them one after another and tried to build an art museum and a hotel respectively, but they were left under a high wall amidst various regulations.
[박종호]
“It was a completely secret land, and I heard about the embassy or the official residence, but I wasn’t sure.”
Subsequently, the city of Seoul secured land from Korean Air through a land exchange method and decided to use it as a space for relaxation, culture and art.
Flowers and grass were planted on the weed-only ground and the wall was lowered to a 1.2-meter stone wall.
If you walk along the pedestrian path, it naturally leads to the Blue House, Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Alleys.
[김효진]
“I think it’s better than I thought. There’s a museum nearby so I think it’s a great place for kids to play.”
The Songhyeon-dong site will be temporarily open for two years and in 2025 the so-called “Lee Kun-hee Donation Hall” will be built and construction work will begin on the official cultural park.
From this moment on, the entry of citizens was again forbidden, but it will be reopened as soon as an official cultural park is created in 2028.
Until now, this is Ji Yoon-soo from MBC News in Songhyeon-dong.
Video Coverage: Choi Kyung-soon, Heo Won-cheol / Video Editing: Kwon Ji-eun
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