The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 11th that it will carry out a two-day cleaning of the statues of King Sejong and General Yi Sun-sin at Gwanghwamun Plaza from the 15th to the 16th. This cleaning is to wash away the dirt accumulated on the statues due to yellow dust and fine dust.
The cleaning work will be carried out in four stages, including water cleaning and debris removal.
First, dust and debris on the surface of the statues will be removed using a low-pressure washer and a soft cloth. Then, the surface of the statues will be wiped with a cloth. In this process, any remaining dust, rust, or debris will be treated with methanol, and the surface will be wiped again with a cloth. Finally, the coating condition will be checked, and any peeled areas will be recoated.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has been conducting cleaning work annually with the mobilization of professionals for the preservation and management of the statues.
Kim Chang-kyu, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Balanced Development Headquarters, said, “We will carry out the cleaning work meticulously so that citizens visiting Gwanghwamun Plaza for spring outings can create pleasant memories with the freshly cleaned statues of King Sejong and General Yi Sun-sin.”