Royal Square glass lanterns used during Joseon royal family night parties to light up Seoul street

▲This photo, provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration shows the square glass lantern installed in Yeongchumun Gate, Gyeongbokgung Palace. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲This photo, provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration shows the square glass lantern installed in front of Sinmoomoon, Gyeongbokgung Palace. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲This photo, provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration, shows the square glass lantern located in Bukinsamadang. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲This photo, provided by Cultural Heritage Administration, is a map showing the spots of the square glass lanterns. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, December 12 (Yonhap) -- Royal Square glass lanterns which were used during Joseon royal family night parties will light up the night in Seoul.

The National Palace Museum of Korea and Jongno-gu office developed specially designed street lights applying the square glass lanterns, and installed 350 lights around Jongno-gu. Seoul, and will hold a lighting ceremony on December 12, 6 p.m. in front of Sinmoomoon, Gyeongbokgung Palace in order to mark the installation.

Seong Ghi-hong, CEO of Yonhap News Agency, the nation's key newswire. Kim In-kyu, director of The National Palace Museum of Korea, and Chung Moon-heon, Mayout of Jongnu-gu, office will participate in the event.

The lighting ceremony is one of the follow-up events to the MOU of Yonhap News, the National Palace Museum of Korea, and Jongno-gu Office to promote traditional culture.

Square glass lantern is a collection of the National Palace Museum of Korea which is framed with lacquered (Ottchil) wood, and covered with glass decorated with flower paintings.

A lamp or a candle was put in the middle of the floor of the lamp, a hook was attached and it was hung on the roof eaves.

Festivals were originally held in the early morning by the Joseon royal family. Night festivals were initiated by 19th century's King Sunjo's Crown Prince Hyomyeong (1809 ~1830), and therefore square glass lanterns were used since the royal night festivals in 1829.

Square glass lanterns which were used 200 years ago during royal festivals are now lighting up the night in Seoul beside the roadside tree.

350 square glass lanterns specially designed as street lights are currently installed in Jongno-gu in total. 271 in Hyoja-ro, surrounding Gyeongbokgung Palace, Cheongwadae-ro, and Samcheong-ro, 40 in Changuimun-ro, 19 in Changgyeonggung-ro, 9 in Bukinsamadang and 11 in Changdeokgung Palace Donhawmun (Yulgok-ro), in each spots.

All of the spots are where Koreans and tourists visit a lot, and it is expected to provide new sights, and naturally let people know the cultural heritage of the Joseon Royal Family.

An official from the National Palace Museum of Korea said, "National Palace Museum of Korea will continue its responsibility to develop the community and to let people know about the beauty and the significance of the royal cultural heritages by actively utilizing it."

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Dowon Kim.)


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