Admiral Yi Sun-Sin Statue

Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu


This statue is a downtown landmark. Seoul-born Yi Sun-sin (1545–98) designed new types of metal-clad warships called geobukseon (turtle boats), and used them to help achieve a series of stunning victor­ies over the much larger Japanese navy that attacked Korea at the end of the 16th century. A geobukseon replica can be seen in the War Memorial.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu attractions

1. Sejong Gallery

0.09 MILES

The regularly changing exhibitions at the gallery in the Sejong Center, the largest cultural complex in Seoul, are generally worth a look for an insight…

2. Cheong-gye Plaza

0.11 MILES

Houses the towering pink-and-blue shell artwork and landmark entitled Spring. Part of the Cheong-gye-cheon pathway, there is always movement day and night…

3. Gwanghwamun Square

0.12 MILES

This broad, elongated square provides a grand approach to Gyeongbokgung and is used for various events (as well as protests). Giant statues celebrate two…

4. King Sejong Statue

0.15 MILES

A statue of the revered scholar king (1397–1450) sits regally on a throne in the middle of Gwanghwamun. An entrance at the statue's base leads down to an…

6. Cheong-gye-cheon

0.15 MILES

With its landscaped walkways, footbridges, waterfalls and a variety of public artworks, such as the enormous pink-and-blue shell entitled Spring in Cheong…

8. Hammering Man

0.29 MILES

Constructed from 50 tonnes of steel by American artist Jonathan Borofsky, this 22m-tall superman of a blacksmith built in 2002 is caught still in the…