Sungnyemun Today
Once the tallest building in Seoul, today, Sungnyemun is
surrounded by the skyscrapers and bustling traffic of a modern
city. The gate provides a visible contrast between ancient and
contemporary Korea, and is one of the few physical links to the
Joseon Dynasty.
The pagoda building on top of Sungnyemun was the oldest
existing wooden structure in Korea until February 10, 2008, when
fire totally destroyed it. A complete restoration project began two
years later in 2010 and it’s expected that an exact reproduction
of the original will be completed by the end of 2012.
The entire reconstruction is being carried out using traditional
methods. Conventional hand tools are made in a smithy set up
on-site and workers wear ‘hanbok’, the traditional Korean costume,
when working on the gate. As much timber as possible from the
surviving frame is being recycled and put together with wood
from dozens of pine trees to become pillars of the new structure.
A traditional ritual was performed at a ceremony prior to the
start of construction, praying for a smooth restoration process
as well as protection from further disasters to Korea’s most
important National Treasure.
© ImageClick / TIMESPACE INC.
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