Songsanghyeon Square

Songsanghyeon Square is South Korea's largest urban public square. Construction began in 2012, the site was expanded in October 2013, and it officially opened on June 12, 2014.

It's named after Song Sang-hyeon (1551-1592), the magistrate of Dongnae who died defending Dongnae Fortress during the 1592 Japanese invasion of Korea. As the fortress fell, he reportedly refused to flee, put on his official court robes, and sat facing the direction of the throne to meet his death — a display of loyalty said to have moved even the invading Japanese commanders to give him a proper burial.

The square's name was chosen through a public competition: 569 submissions were narrowed to three finalists — "Songsanghyeon Square," "Moneomeo Square," and "Citizens' Garden" — before Songsanghyeon Square was selected on November 5, 2012.