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Officials and representatives from the Republic of Korea Consulate in Sapporo, city representatives and officers of the JGSDF 18th infantry regiment at the launch of the Korean consulate sponsored Kwanghwamun Gate. This huge snow sculpture comprised 3200 tons of snow (hauled in 640 x 5 ton truck loads). It was 15 meters high with a depth and width of 25 meters. It was built by 4000 personnel (gross) of the 18th infantry division in just 27 days for the 2002 festival. The Kwanghwamun is the front gate of the Kyongbokkung royal palace first built in 1395 by Yi Song-gye, the first King of the Choson dynasty. After it was destroyed by fire during the Bunroku war (the invasion of Korea by Japanese forces led by Toyotomi Hideyoshi) in 1592, the Kwanghwamun gate was rebuilt with the restoration of the Kyongbokkung palace in 1867. Unfortunately it was destroyed by fire again during the Korean war in 1950. The present Kwanghwamun gate is the structure that was restored in 1969. The Kwanghwamun is a three-arched gate made of granite. Above the granite is beautifully proportioned two storied gatehouse. Kwanghwamun is admired as the most beautiful gate among those built during the era of the Choson dynasty. It is also renowned as the masterpiece of Korean architecture.
"Factoid"
Height 15 meters, width 25 meters, depth 25 meters |