The Cultural Heritage Administration (Administrator: Byun Youngsup) will hold the Sungnyemun Restoration Ceremony from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on May 4 to honor the completion of the Sungnyemun Restoration Project, which took five years and three months to complete. The ceremony will consist of pre-ceremony events (13:50~14:00) including performances by a children's choir and a Buddhist ritual called cheondo that is believed to get rid of bad luck. These will be followed by a restoration completion ceremony (14:00~14:40), including drumming to signal the beginning of the ceremony, a progress report, a traditional Korean performance called Gocheon (proclamation to heaven), a signboard unveiling ceremony, a gate opening, and the delivery of the Hope Exemplar - made with postcards sent to the Hope Postbox by Korean people. After this will be a traditional military band parade (14:40~15:40) for the transportation of the Hope Exemplar; a traditional music and dance performance called Nanjang and Nanjang on Sejong-ro (14:00~16:00) and finally a Prayer for Mutual Survival event at Gwanghwamun Square (15:30~16:40). The Hope Postbox for Cultural Prosperity event, which highlights Korea's determination to preserve Sungnyemun and cultural heritages and its hope for cultural flourishing, has been held since April 22. The rite announcing the restoration of Sungnyemun to ancestor kings will be held at Jongmyo Shrine on May 2. The cultural Heritage Administration plans to celebrate the restoration of Sungnyemun with a ceremony that heals the sense of loss and sorrow caused by the Sungnyemun fire and unites all Koreans under the slogan of "Sungnyemun, a new door of culture wide open." Severely damaged by arson in February 2008, Korea's No. 1 National Treasure underwent restoration with the participation of Korea's top-notch master carpenters and craftsmen, including those named as intangible cultural treasures. The restoration team conducted various historical and investigative researches in order to repair the national treasure using traditional building materials and techniques. They burned hand-made roof tiles in a traditional kiln and used traditional instead of artificial paints for the dancheong, the multi-colored traditional Korean decorative coloring. The building plaque had been repaired temporarily after being damage during the Korean War, but the restoration team restored the plaque with writing based on a rubbed copy of the original made during the Joseon period. The walls on both sides of Sungnyemun, which were demolished under Japanese rule, have been rebuilt as well. The Sungnyemun restoration project was carried out amid much national interest and support. Some people donated pine wood required for the restoration, while some others raised over KRW 700 million at home and abroad for the purchase of various building materials. Also, over 28,000 people visited Sungnyemun during the restoration to witness how it was being restored with traditional building methods. Now back to its old splendor, Sungnyemun will be open to the public every day after the restoration ceremony, except Mondays, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors can also tour the upper story of the gate every Saturday (11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m.) and on-site reservations are available for up to 20 people. During May, the opening hours of Sungnyemun will be extended by an hour and it will close at 7 p.m. The Cultural Heritage Administration will open to the public all four royal palaces (Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung) and Jongmyo Shrine on May 4 to celebrate the restoration of Sungnyemun as a national event.