SEOUL, Gwanghwamun Square at the center of Seoul will be newly furbished with the addition of a space dedicated to two main sculptures symbolizing Korean patriotism and national pride, the Seoul city government announced Tuesday. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon made the announcement during a meeting with Korean War veterans on the 74th anniversary of the outbreak of the three-year civil war on June 25, 1950. The project is intended to establish a special space with national emblems that epitomize national values and future visions, akin to the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., the United States, or the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, city officials said. Under the project, a 100-meter pole topped with Taegeukgi, the national flag, will be erected. It will feature high-tech media arts, illuminating and making the pole discernible from afar, with the lower parts capable of displaying moving images. The space will also be adorned with a large brazier holding an "unextinguishable flame," designed to honor pa triots and war veterans. The construction will begin in May next year after finalizing the design plan through a public competition scheduled from August to November. The new space will open to the public in February 2026. A city budget of 61 billion won (US$44 million) will be designated for the refurbishment project, which also includes a plan to upgrade a nearby park to be more visitor-friendly and comfortable. Source: Yonhap News Agency