Special lectures by history experts and family programs on offer

Seoul to run guided tours in November, history mission game in December

[Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government]
[Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government]

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will open the 2026 Gwanghwamun Bitmeorak Festival at Gwanghwamun Square on Oct. 24, running seasonal programs through the end of the year.

The festival began in 2022 following the redesign of Gwanghwamun Square and is now in its fifth edition. This year, new hands-on programs have been added in connection with the Garden of Gratitude, which opened in May.

On Oct. 24 and 25, humanities lectures, hands-on programs and street performances will take place across the square. At 5 p.m. on Oct. 24, Shin Hee-kwon, a professor in the Department of Korean History at the University of Seoul, will give a special lecture for 100 children on the history and significance of Gwanghwamun Square at the Garden of Gratitude stage. Registration is open through the Seoul Metropolitan Government's public service reservation website.

In addition, author talks covering children's literature and general culture will be held on a special stage at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Oct. 24 and at 3 p.m. on Oct. 25. Street performances featuring music, magic and fusion gugak will also be staged.

The Garden of Gratitude will host a Nobel quiz competition and family activity programs. Visitors who write a message of gratitude at Freedom Hall can stop by a booth in front of the statue of King Sejong to receive a hand-lettered calligraphy piece with a phrase of their choice. A calligraphy program that drew an average of about 1,000 participants a day last year will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days.

In November, the city will launch the Bitmeorak Story Tour for the first time — a walking tour of Gwanghwamun Square featuring historical commentary. Tailored tours for children and families, foreign visitors, and young military personnel, including nighttime options, will run every Friday and Saturday. Detailed schedules and registration information will be announced later.

In December, a weekend program called the Bitmeorak Mission Game — Children's History Expedition will have children explore the statues of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and King Sejong, as well as the Garden of Gratitude, completing history quizzes and missions along the way.

Participants will receive a mission sheet at Freedom Hall in the Garden of Gratitude and visit landmarks including the statues of Admiral Yi and King Sejong to complete the quizzes and tasks. Those who finish all the missions will receive a commemorative gift. The game will run every weekend, with details to be posted on the Gwanghwamun Square website in December.

Kang Seok, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Balanced Development Bureau, said the programs were designed "so that people can experience the history and culture of Gwanghwamun Square up close and discover something new to enjoy each time they visit."


ken@heraldcorp.com