One of the many Korean flags seen along Nonhyeon Rd in Seocho-gu, Seoul.
This weekend, flags were placed along the trunk streets of Seoul in honor of the March, 1 1919 Korean Independence Movement and Park Geun-Hye’s Inauguration Ceremony. Taegukgi (태극기) is the name of the Korean flag.
The holiday commemorates the quintessential non-violent demonstration of Koreans against Japanese colonial rule via a Declaration of Independence. Korea was a Japanese colony from 1910-1945.
Korean Presidents are elected for a single 5-year term and Park Geun-Hye (박근혜) will take office as President on February 25, 2013. She is replacing exiting President Lee Myung-Bak (이명박). As do other world leaders, Korean Presidents frequently handout pardons before the leaving the Blue House.
숭례문 Sungnyemun (also known as 남대문 Namdaemun)
After being nearly destroyed in 2008 by an arsonist seeking revenge against the government, the gate will re-open to the public this April. They’ve rebuilt it using traditional methods and seem to have improved security around it as well. I’ve been waiting a long time to take visitors here again.
(Image taken after the scaffolding was removed, credit Korea Times)
Full story at the Korea Times.
Happy Lunar New Year!
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