Constructing the woldae

The Cultural Heritage Administration made an interim report Tuesday about restoring the woldae, or a wide traditional platform, that leads to the entrance of Gwanghwamun in Jongno District, central Seoul. As part of the Gyeongbok Palace Restoration Project, it took eight months of unearthing to figure out the full scale of the woldae, the construction techniques used to make it, and how its design had changed over the years. The administration found that before the woldae was destroyed by the Japanese during its colonial rule (1910-45), it had spanned 48.7 meters (159.7 feet) north and south, and 29.7 meters east and west. Although there was photographic data of Gwanghwamun and its woldae, this is the first time that the administration was able to confirm its actual size. As for its construction, the woldae went through four design changes from sometime during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) until it was destroyed circa 1923. The restored version will be a replica of the first phase design, from the 1890s. Its construction will begin in May and is scheduled to finish in October. [SEOMOONDANG]

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]