All views and information presented herein are my own and do not represent the views of the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State.
Seoul loves to light its buildings, to dress them in different colors. The holiday season is another chance for the city to create wonderful displays that bring people together to celebrate the festive season.
Myeong-dong is a shopping area where one of Korea’s largest department stores, Shinsegae has its main branch. Their tree display was a changing tree where the lights and colors took on different themes, snowflakes, presents, stripes. Across the street, the fountain by the Bank of Korea looked like an elaborate wedding cake.
My favorite display was at Dongdaemun Design Plaza. The open space around the building, one of Seoul’s best examples of modern architecture by the late Iraqui-British architect, Dame Zaha Hadid, has a path of LED roses, 25.550 of them. The number is significant. In 2015, the light display began in honor of the 70th anniversary of Korean Independence Day or Gwangbokjeol. Gwangbokjeol means “the day the light returned”. Each LED rose corresponds to one day of independence., 365 multiplied by 70 years.
Wherever one walked last night, there were couples and families enjoying the holiday lights, the cold weather, the street food vendors and the holiday season.
Magnificent!
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Beautiful. Much more festive than Vietnam at this time of year.
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Beautiful pictures. Thanks!
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The lights are so pretty and I never knew they had a meaning for Gwangbokjeol! Thank you for teaching me about Seoul during the holiday season!
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So happy you are still sharing your city with me!
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beautiful lights~!!
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Beautiful city!
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Beautiful! Hope you had a wonderful holiday!
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Thanks! I did have a great holiday in Seoul.
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Simply spectacular! Wishing you a bright New Year! Beth
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Thank you! Wishing you all the best in 2017.
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Can’t wait to see you back in the states. You have learned and experienced so much! What an opportunity.
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See you soon!
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