Various cultural events will be held in Seoul’s historic and cultural areas of Jeong-dong Street and Deoksu Palace from May 25-27 under the theme “Rediscovery of Jeong-dong, No. 1 Place of Modern Cultural Heritage ― Time Travel to the Daehan Empire,” the Cultural Heritage Administration said Monday.

The administration said the events are designed to rediscover the historic and geographic significance of Jeong-dong, the site of South Korea’s legacies of modern diplomacy, education, religion and medicine. They will also shed light on the efforts of Gojong, the first monarch of the Daehan Empire (1897-1910), to restore the country’s sovereignty from Japanese colonial rule.

Jeong-dong in central Seoul is home to some 60 modern cultural sites. Among them are the pavilions of Deoksu Palace, the former Legation of Russia, Simpson Memorial Hall in Ewha Girls High School, Chungdong Church, Baejae High School and the Salvation Army of Korea Territorial Headquarters.

An opening ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. at Jungmyeongjeon Pavilion of Deoksu Palace, which will be followed by a lecture by novelist Kim Jong-rok under the title “Jeong-dong’s Locational Significance and the Dreams of Young People.”

Other events will include the “Memories of the Royal Library,” which will include a reenactment of diplomatic protocol Emperor Gojong used for audiences for foreign diplomats, programs to experience Korea’s modern history, a painting competition for citizens, screening of a silent motion picture and an open house to exhibit modern cultural properties.

As part of the open house program, a pipe organ concert will be held at the 130-year-old Chungdong Church, a designated historical site.

The Salvation Army will open its building and hold an outdoor concert, while Ewha Girls’ High School will also be open to the public. The Anglican church will open its underground tombs, bell tower and nunnery for the first time in history. Haegeum musician Kang Eun-il will play the two-stringed traditional Korean instrument at Yangijae in Deoksu Palace. 

(Yonhap News)