Sejongno

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Sejongno
Hangul:	세종로
Hanja:	世宗路
Revised Romanization:	Sejongno
McCune-Reischauer:	Sejongno

Admiral Yi Sun-sin statue

Sejong Center at night

Sejongno is a street that cuts through Jongno-gu in downtown Seoul. It is named after King Sejong. The street is only 600 meters in length, but thanks to its central location it is of great symbolic importance. It points north to Gwanaksan and Bukhansan (Mountains), and the Joseon Dynasty palace, Gyeongbokgung. To either side of the street rests the Public Prosecutors Office, Sejong Center, Kyobo Life Insurance, the U.S. Embassy, Donga Ilbo Headquarters and other numerous landmarks of Seoul. At the very crossroads, stands the statue of the Admiral Yi Sun-sin, the naval war hero of Korea.

It has now become customary for the Korean Marines who are about to graduate their 2 years of service, to congregate in front of Lee's statue and swear allegiance. This creates immense traffic congestions to the 8 lane street of Sejongno.

At the northern end of Sejongno sits Gwanghwamun, the gate at the entrance to Gyeongbokgung. The name Gwanghwamun is also commonly used to refer to the intersection at the southern end of Sejongno.

[edit] Transportation links

Gwanghwamun Station, which is on Subway Line 5, is located at the southern end of Sejongno. Gyeongbokgung Station, which is served by Subway Line 3, has entrances near the northern end of Sejongno.