AFTER 90 years of separation, Changgyeonggung Palace and Jongmyo are once again connected by the newly formed Gung gwol dam jang gil, a 340 m-long trail right above Yulgok-ro Tunnel. Prior to Japanese Colonial Rule, Changgyeonggung Palace and Jongmyo, the royal shrine for deceased kings and queens from the Joseon Dynasty, were joined by a forest trail encased within stone walls[1]. However, to eradicate a sense of national spirit, Japanese colonizers demolished the forest and constructed Yulgok-ro, a road that separates the two historically-significant locations[1]. Instead of transforming the road back into a forest, the Seoul Metropolitan government re-bridged the palace and shrine together by creating the Yulgok-ro Tunnel and forming Gung gwol dam jang gil on top of its structure[2]. Additionally, the government mended the shattered stone wall from the forest trail and the north gate of Jongmyo, completing the rehabilitation of the site to its original state. Thus, the recent connection of Changgyeonggung to Jongmyo has great national importance: not only does it restore meaning to the historic symbols of the Joseon Dynasty, but it also allows the joo-maek[4]—an essential component in Korean geomancy[5]—to flow again from Bukhan Mountain to Jongmyo. 

[1] The Seoulshinmun Daily

[2] The Hankyoreh

[3] Hankook Ilbo

[4] Joo-maek: The main stream of one’s vital energy; also known as “qi”

[5] Geomancy: The ancient art of purposefully arranging buildings and sites for a harmonious balance of natural counterparts such as water and trees