Park Geun-hye

<—-Previous Story

It was almost noon as I slowly descended alley after alley of Bukchon Hanok Village. Stepping between traditional Korean buildings seemed to throw me back in time, a time when Joseon Dynasty was enjoying its golden era.

A few moments later, my steps were parallel to Bukchon-ro Avenue section. I casually walked enjoying cool midday air of Seoul while occasionally stopping in several winter jacket sellers. But its price, which was still above 125,000 Won, made me reluctant to stop any longer.

I quickened my pace when the face of Anguk Station could be seen far ahead. But a few steps later, I slowed down my steps, my ears could barely hear Indonesian language from a small shop, four Indonesian travelers were enjoying a dish of Chimaek (a dish of fried chicken mixed with South Korean beer). Their joking fun made me reluctant to greet them but I was able to confirm that they were from the same nation as me.

Entering Anguk Station, I headed straight for the platform. Catching the Seoul Metro to get to Sejongno area immediately. Seoul Metro arrived just moments after I reached the platform.

Entering a carriage, I couldn’t hide my chuckle. “Oh, No……”, this Seoul Metro was similar to the old Jakarta’s Commuter “Very funny …”, there were a seller screaming explaining goods they was selling.

That was not enough… there were men quickly walked through carriage after carriage to simply slip business cards between doors, carriage poles and whatever places to put it were possible. “Ohh my God…”, I was even lowering my face I still couldn’t hide my amusement.

That funny moments was closed with another funny scene where train officer combed the carriage to take all business cards which were tucked away before I got off in Jongno 3(sam)-ga Station.

Now, I was changing to Seoul Metro Line 5 to get to final destination of Gwanghwamun Station. Not passing another station, so I quickly arrived at Gwanghwanum Square.

Impatiently stepping the escalator, I tried to get as fast as I could to surface. Arriving at the exit I could only stand frozen, staring at a statue of a legendary South Korean fighter. It was a statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin who proudly stood with a sword grip in his right hand and a suit of armor which covered almost his entire body.

Admiral Yi Sun-sin himself was a Joseon Dynasty era warrior who with his 12 fleet of warships fought Japanese invasion in 23 major battles at sea.

Meanwhile, Gwanghwanum Square used to be one of the most famous royal squares because several royal government buildings were placed around this square.

However, my arrival seemed to coincide with a large demonstration that was remembered as The Candlelight Revolution, a popular protest against corruption scandal which carried out by the President of South Korea, Park Geun-hye.

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Beberapa tenda demonstran masih tampak tersisa di kiri kanan sisi patung Laksamana Yi Sun-sin. Tetapi itu semua tidak mengurangi rasa antusiasku untuk menikmati Gwanghwamun Square.

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Hampir tengah hari ketika aku perlahan menuruni gang demi gang Bukchon Hanok Village. Melangkah di sela-sela bangunan tradisional asli Korea seolah melemparku ke masa lalu, masa dimana Dinasti Joseon sedang menikmati era keemasannya.

Beberapa saat kemudian, langkahku sudah menyejajari ruas Bukchon-ro Avenue. Aku melangkah santai menikmati sejuknya udara tengah hari Seoul sembari sesekali berhenti di beberapa spot penjual winter jacket. Tetapi harganya yang masih saja di atas 125.000 Won membuatku urung untuk berhenti lebih lama.

Aku mempercepat langkah ketika muka Stasiun Anguk lamat terpantau jauh di hadapan. Tetapi beberapa langkah kemudian, aku melambatkan ayunan langkah, sayup telingaku mendengar Bahasa Indonesia dari sebuah kedai mungil, empat pelancong Indonesia sedang asyik menikmati hidangan Chimaek (sajian ayam goreng berpadu bir khas Korea Selatan). Keseruan senda gurau mereka membuatku enggan menyapanya tetapi aku sudah bisa memastikan bahwa mereka berasal dari bangsa yang sama denganku.

Memasuki Stasiun Anguk, aku langsung menuju platform. Mengejar Seoul Metro untuk segera menuju daerah Sejongno. Seoul Metro tiba hanya beberapa saat setelah aku mencapai platform.

Memasuki sebuah gerbong, aku tak bisa menyembunyikan tawa kecil. “Oh, tidak……”, Seoul Metro ini mirip KRL Jabodetabek masa lalu. “Gileee men….”, ada penjual yang teriak-teriak menjelaskan barang yang dijulanya.

Itu belum cukup……Seseorang dengan cepat berjalan menyisir gerbong demi gerbong untuk sekedar menyelipkan kartu nama di beberapa sela pintu, tiang gerbong dan selipan apapun yang memungkinkan. “Buseettttt dahhh….”, menundukkan muka pun aku masih tak bisa menyembunyikan kegelian itu.

Kejadian itu pun ditutup dengan adegan lucu lainnya dimana petugas kereta menyisiri gerbong untuk mengambil semua kartu nama yang terselip dimana-mana sebelum aku turun di Stasiun Jongno 3(sam)-ga.

Aku kini berpindah ke Seoul Metro Line 5 untuk menuju tujuan akhir Stasiun Gwanghwamun. Tak berselang dengan stasiun lain, maka aku dengan cepat tiba di Gwanghwanum Square.

Menaiki escalator dengan tidak sabaran, aku berusaha secepat mungkin munuju permukaan. Sesampai di pintu keluar aku hanya bisa berdiri terpaku, menatap sebuah patung seorang petarung legendaris Korea Selatan. Adalah patung Laksamana Yi Sun-sin yang berdiri gagah dengan genggaman pedang di tangan kanan dan baju zirah yang menutupi hampir seluruh tubuhnya.

Laksamana Yi Sun-sin sendiri adalah pejuang era Dinasti Joseon yang dengan 12 armada kapal perangnya melawan invasi Jepang dalam 23 pertempuran besar di lautan.

Sedangkan Gwanghwanum Square dulunya adalah salah satu alun-alun kerajaan yang sangat terkenal karena beberapa bangunan pemerintahan zaman kerajaan ditempatkan di sekitar alun-alun ini.

Hanya saja, kedatanganku tampaknya bertepatan dengan sebuah demonstrasi besar yang dikenang dengan nama The Candlelight Revolution, protes rakyat melawan skandal korupsi yang dilakukan oleh Presiden Korea Selatan, Park Geun-hye.

Kisah Selanjutnya—->

Beberapa tenda demonstran masih tampak tersisa di kiri kanan sisi patung Laksamana Yi Sun-sin. Tetapi itu semua tidak mengurangi rasa antusiasku untuk menikmati Gwanghwamun Square.

Tag: Park Geun-hye

The Candlelight Revolution in Gwanghwamun Square

The Candlelight Revolution di Gwanghwamun Square