Gwanghwamun Square

This guide to Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul centers on the bronze statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, raised in 1968 by military ruler Park Chung-hee as a monument to strength, and on the candlelight protests that filled this square in late 2016 after a corruption scandal reached his daughter, then-president Park Geun-hye. You'll hear how the crowds grew from thousands to over a million, and why the demonstrations stayed peaceful night after night. Look up at the admiral's raised sword as you take in how much ground this plaza covers.