Public gets look at colonial-era tram tracks

Japanese colonial-era tram tracks discovered near Gwanghwamun Gate in central Seoul are shown to the public on Thursday. [YONHAP]

Japanese colonial-era tram tracks that were recently discovered in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, were shown to the public for the first time on Thursday.

The tracks were found as Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Cultural Heritage Administration have been carrying out joint excavation work near Gwanghwamun Gate since last September as part of a historical restoration project.

The two organizations are trying to bring back a terrace, which is called a woldae in Korean, from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) that was outside Gwanghwamun Gate of Gyeongbok Palace for kings to hold public rituals.

Seoul said Japanese imperialists are believed to have “damaged” the woldae and other Korean historical facilities near Gwanghwamun Gate during their 1910-1948 occupation of the peninsula in order to lay the tram tracks.

The Gwanghwamun Gate woldae, which was about 48.7 meters (160 feet) long and 29.7 meters wide, was damaged during the 1920s, said Seoul.

The tracks were buried in the ground in 1966, when the Sejong-ro underpass was built.

While announcing the track discovery last week, Seoul Metropolitan Government said it would offer a tour of the excavation site to the first 270 people who apply to participate. The tours will take place three days this week, from Thursday to Saturday, with three sessions planned for each day, 30 people for each session.

The city government said it hopes to heed public opinion on how to preserve the tracks.

For those who missed the chance to join the tours, Seoul said it was planning to upload an online video next month explaining the cultural significance of the Gwanghwamun Gate area and the historical artifacts found so far.

The joint excavation work carried out by Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Cultural Heritage Administration is scheduled to wrap up by the end of April. Restoration work on woldae will take place until October, after which the area will be open to the public.

Other historical features found near the Gwanghwamun Gate include stereobates from different Joseon periods, waterways, a well, stone foundations for fences and pieces of ceramic. They were all discovered underground, particularly under the road in front of the Seoul Government Complex.

Seoul Metropolitan Government said the finds will be preserved and exhibited at Gwanghwamun Square once the restoration work is complete.

The historical restoration project is part of a broader scheme to renovate Gwanghwamun Square as a means to create more leisure and walking space in the capital’s bustling downtown.

BY LEE SUNG-EUN [lee.sungeun@joongang.co.kr]