Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu - Seoul - page 130

( www.jongno.go.kr ; Sajik Park; Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung, Exit 5) This impressive stone altar in a
tranquil park and surrounded by low stone walls and ornate wooden gates dates back to
1395 and King Taejo, founder of the Joseon dynasty. It was used to pray to the gods for
good harvests.

GALLERY

SEJONG GALLERY
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( www.sejongpac.or.kr ; Sejongno; 10am-5pm; Line 5 to Gwanghwamun, Exit 8) Next to the theatre
and concert hall; the changing exhibitions are generally worth a look as modern Korean
artists often display wonderful work in the four gallery rooms.

DAELIM CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM
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GALLERY

( 720 0667; www.daelimmuseum.org ; charge varies with exhibition; 10am-6pm Tue-Sun; Line 3 to
Gyeongbokgung, Exit 5) This gallery specialises in exhibitions on photography, design and fash-
ion. The building, which was originally a family house was remodelled by French archi-
tect Vincent Cornu and has a lovely garden to the rear.

HAMMERING MAN
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STATUE

( Line 5 to Gwanghwamun, Exit 6) The moving metallic shadow of a hammering man, made
out of 50 tonnes of steel by American artist Jonathan Borofsky, towers five storeys above
the street. Funded by a local insurance company, the superman of a blacksmith has been
silently hammering since 2002. The statue may be simple, but is also thought provoking.
Is work just a meaningless ritual that dominates our lives?

NAKED ART

On the east side of Gyeongbokgung the UUL National Art Museum of Seoul OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP (
www.uul.go.kr ) , a new branch of the National Museum of Contemporary Art, is under construction and set to
open late in 2013. The construction site wall facing the palace is decorated with comical takes on famous pieces
of art, including a rather saucy Mona Lisa.