Gwanghwamun Gate hosts media art from 8 to 11 October
Published on 10/11/2026 at 06:44 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- Gwanghwamun Gate hosts the Twenty-Four, Universe media facade from 8 to 11 October 2026.
- The projection uses 24 Hangeul letters and appears on the gate walls during Hangeul Week in Seoul.
- The gate was built in 1395, restored after extensive damage and reopened to the public on 15 August 2010.
Gwanghwamun Gate and the Twenty-Four, Universe media facade bring a dated cultural event to Seoul from 8 to 11 October 2026. The projection appears on the walls of the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace during Hangeul Week, a nationwide programme marking 100 years since Hangeul Day became an official commemorative occasion.
Twenty-Four, Universe runs at Gwanghwamun Gate until 11 October
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that Twenty-Four, Universe would be projected onto the walls from 8 to 11 October 2026. The screening is scheduled for each evening from 8pm to 11pm, placing the current programme within the final days of Hangeul Week. The ministry describes the work as a visual interpretation of Hangeul letters, with 14 consonants and 10 vowels forming the basis of the design.
The media facade follows the Hangeul Day Eve Celebration at Gwanghwamun Square on 8 October. That programme includes the lighting of 100 lights, performances by AtHeart and Broccoli, you too?, and readings of The Meaning of Hangeul by international students and citizens. The ministry programme for Hangeul Week links the projection directly to the gate and supplies the dates.
Gwanghwamun Gate connects Hangeul imagery with Joseon history
The gate was built in 1395 under King Taejo, the first king of the Joseon dynasty, and serves as the southern and main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Its three arched entrances historically separated the routes used by the king, the crown prince and royal officials. Granite walls support the wooden gate tower, whose sign sits at the centre of the structure.
The present appearance reflects several periods of damage, relocation and restoration. The gate was damaged during the Imjin War, rebuilt during the reconstruction of Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1864, moved during the Japanese administration and damaged again during the Korean War. A major reconstruction began in 2006, replacing concrete with granite and wood, and the restored gate reopened to the public on 15 August 2010. The heritage profile of the gate records that history and its Seoul address.
The projection therefore uses a restored palace entrance as its screen rather than treating the artwork as a separate indoor exhibition. Its changing letters are designed to move from ink and constellations towards nature, life and the traditional dancheong colours associated with the gate.
Visiting Gwanghwamun Gate: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Twenty-Four, Universe is scheduled for Gwanghwamun Gate from 8 to 11 October 2026, with screenings from 8pm to 11pm each evening.
- The media facade is projected onto the gate walls, while the Hangeul Week performances and activity areas are centred on Gwanghwamun Square.
- The site is at 161 Sajik-ro in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Gwanghwamun Gate Station on Seoul Subway Line 5 serves the area.
- The gate is a historic structure with three arched entrances, granite walls and a wooden tower. The surrounding square is an open urban public space.
- South Korea’s official language is Korean and its national currency is the South Korean won.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Gwanghwamun Gate
When does Twenty-Four, Universe take place at Gwanghwamun Gate?
The media facade is scheduled from 8 to 11 October 2026, with screenings from 8pm to 11pm each evening.
Where is Gwanghwamun Gate and how do you get there?
It is at 161 Sajik-ro in Jongno-gu, Seoul, near Gwanghwamun Gate Station on Subway Line 5.
What is Gwanghwamun Gate?
It is the southern and main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, built in 1395 and reopened after restoration on 15 August 2010.
