Namdaemun (Sungnyemun) Gate, Seoul

The majestic Sungnyemun Gate, commonly known as Namdaemun or “South Great Gate”, serves as the historic southern entrance to the walled city of old Seoul. Built between 1396 and 1398 during the reign of King Taejo, and reconstructed in 1448, 1479, and later under King Gojong, it has long stood as a symbol of the Joseon Dynasty’s architectural grandeur and urban planning. In 1962, it was designated National Treasure No. 1, the first site in Korea to receive this honor.

The gate’s commanding presence is characterized by its stone base and bipartite wooden pavilion. A large arched portal dominates the center, flanked by smaller passageways at either end, while the upper pavilion-now rebuilt-features a traditional hip-and-bracket roof supported by multiple pillars in a style typical of late Joseon architecture.

On February 10, 2008, the wooden pavilion was devastated by an arson attack that destroyed much of the upper structure. The country rallied to restore this treasured monument, and after a five-year restoration effort using traditional methods, it reopened to the public on May 4, 2013.