Latest news with #SeonwonjeonHall
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Contest to seek creative takes on Korean landscape architecture
Koreans and non-Koreans can participate in the competition to be hosted by the Korea Heritage Service In an effort to promote a deeper understanding of traditional Korean landscape architecture's historical and aesthetic beauty, the Korea Heritage Service is organizing a contest to encourage creative interpretations of these traditional spaces. This is the only contest in South Korea dedicated to traditional landscape architecture, including Korean-style gardens and palace grounds. The agency intends to use the submitted ideas as a foundation for future preservation efforts and creative development. This year's contest is the second edition. The contest is divided into three categories. In the digital design category, participants are asked to create innovative design ideas for traditional Korean gardens using digital tools and technology. In the photography and video category, participants must submit visual media that captures traditional Korean landscape spaces. Lastly, the construction category invites participants to showcase examples of actual construction or restoration projects carried out at traditional Korean landscape sites. The winning entries will be selected by experts in each category and announced on Nov. 3. The grand prize winner in the digital design category will receive a prize of 10 million won ($7,373), while 1 million won will go to the winner of the photography and video category. The winner of the construction category will be awarded 3 million won. The winning works will be exhibited to the public from Nov. 17-28 at Seonwonjeon Hall of Deoksugung Palace in Jung-gu, central Seoul. The competition is open to Koreans and non-Koreans alike, according to the KHS. Applications can be downloaded from the contest website between July 1 and Sept. 30, and completed entries must be submitted via email from Sept. 23 to 30. More information is available on the contest's official website.
Korea Herald
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Royal signboard revealed to public after being lost for century
The signboard that hung on the now-gone royal Seonwonjeon Hall was unveiled to the public Thursday after the authorities brought the 19th-century historical artifact back to Gyungbokgung. The Korea Heritage Service and the government-affiliated Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation revealed the signboard at 10 a.m. at the National Palace Museum of Korea in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, located inside the main Joseon-era palace. The current location of the museum — where the signboard will be kept — is where Gyungbokgung's Seonwonjeon stood over 100 years ago. The authorities discovered the lost artifact had been put up for auction in Japan in 2023 and persuaded the owner to return it. Video game developer Riot Games funded the artifact's reacquisition as part of its project to protect the country's cultural assets since 2012. The wooden signboard bears the Chinese characters meaning "Seonwonjeon," referring to the Gyungbokgung Hall that was lost in the early 20th century. Seonwonjeon Hall was where portraits of past Joseon kings were hung, symbolizing the roots of the royal family and hosting the incumbent kings' rituals to their ancestors. The signboard is thought to have adorned the sacred hall some 150 years ago, and the writing on it is believed to be written by 19th-century royal official Seo Seung-bo. It was lost sometime after the Seonwonjeon relinquished its functions when King Gojong located his office and residence in 1897. The hall was dismantled afterward, and its parts were used for the now-destroyed Bakmunsa Temple in Jung-gu, Seoul, built in 1932 and dedicated to Japan's Resident-General of Korea, Ito Hirobumi. Authorities are unsure exactly how the signboard was lost and taken to Japan. The KHS plans to start the reconstruction of Seonwonjeon Hall in 2030, after the National Palace Museum is relocated to Sejong. The reclaimed signboard will adorn the rebuilt hall.
