Sungnyemun Gate (Namdaemun)

Sungnyemun was the main southern gate in the wall around Hanyang, the capital of Joseon, and is commonly called Namdaemun, "Great South Gate". Standing among the office towers between Seoul Station and City Hall, it shows how the old walled city was laid out. Its wooden gate tower collapsed in a fire in 2008; the restoration was completed in 2013.

History: Seoul's southern gateway for over 600 years

Construction began in 1396, the fifth year of King Taejo, and was completed in 1398; the gate was rebuilt in 1448 under King Sejong and in 1479 under King Seongjong. The city gates were named after the Five Confucian Virtues, and the southern gate received ye, "propriety". The name board is traditionally attributed to Grand Prince Yangnyeong, King Taejong's eldest son, although other accounts exist. The board hangs vertically, which tradition links to warding off the fire energy that geomancers attributed to nearby Gwanaksan. In 1907, citing a visit by the Japanese crown prince, the walls connecting the gate were demolished to make way for a road and tram line, and from then on the public could no longer pass through the gate. To repair damage from the Korean War, the gate was fully dismantled and rebuilt in 1961–1963, which revealed that major work had also been done in 1479. In 1962 it was designated National Treasure No. 1. In a 1994 survey of 70 artists it was voted Seoul's top landmark. For decades it stood like an island in traffic; parts of the walls on both sides were rebuilt in 2003, a plaza was laid out around it in 2005, and in 2006 the central passage was opened to the public.

The 2008 fire and restoration

On the night of 10 February 2008 an arson attack set the gate alight. Despite more than 360 firefighters, the fire flared up again after midnight, and about five hours after it started the upper storey collapsed, leaving only the stone base and part of the lower floor. Restoration began in February 2010, was finished on 29 April 2013, and the gate reopened on 4 May 2013.

What to see

• Arched gateway and pavilion: a two-storey wooden pavilion, five bays wide and two deep, sits on a stone base pierced by a rainbow-shaped arch.
• Dragon painting: look up as you walk through the arch to see the dragon painted on the ceiling.
• Rebuilt wall sections: short stretches of city wall on either side hint at the old fortifications.
• Ceremonies: gate-opening ceremonies with guards in traditional dress are held here at times.

Tripto tips

• Hours: 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:55), closed every Monday; if Monday is a public holiday the gate opens and closes on the next weekday.
• Admission: free.
• Getting there: about 2 minutes on foot from City Hall Station exit 2 (Lines 1 and 2), about 10 minutes from Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5). There is no parking, so use public transport.
• Time needed: 20–30 minutes. Namdaemun Market and Deoksugung Palace are close by for a longer walk.