[Seoul History] Sungnyemun Gate Tour: Walking Through Korea’s Majestic National Treasure No. 1
Hello, history buffs and urban walkers! It’s Bitna. In my last post, we got lost in the bustling food alleys and wholesale labyrinth of Namdaemun Market . If you walk out through Gate 1 of the market and look up, you will immediately see a grand, fortress-like stone structure standing proudly in the middle of a modern traffic circle. Today, we are visiting Sungnyemun Gate (숭례문) , also widely known to travelers as Namdaemun Gate . It holds the honorable title of South Korea’s National Treasure No. 1 , and it is a breathtaking bridge between Seoul's ancient past and its soaring modern skyscrapers. 🏯 The Grand Gateway of the Joseon Dynasty Built in 1398 during the reign of King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty, Sungnyemun is the oldest wooden structure in Seoul. Its name literally translates to "The Gate of Exalted Ceremonies." Back in the day, Seoul was a walled city surrounded by massive stone fortifications. Sungnyemun was the grand southern entrance. It was th...