Korean News Today - The gates and walls of Seoul

■ Korean News Today

Total Articles 72

The gates and walls of Seoul

Views 49315 Votes 0 2009.08.22 06:38:44

admin http://www.koreaaward.com/kor/5616

Category :	Culture

Dongdaemun today
Okay, most people who have been in Seoul for more than a year know that Seoul was once a fortified city - meaning a city with a wall around it. This was to prevent the capital from attack by invaders but also to control who moved into and out of the city through its 4 large and 4 small gates. But how many gates were there, and where?

This article seeks to clear up a little of the confusion surrounding Seoul's portals - not the internet kind.

A note on names
Each of Seoul's major gates has two appellations - one usually a descriptive name, giving the gate's location and size, and the other an honorific name, expressing some desirous quality. The meaning of these latter names in English differs depending on the source consulted. This can make things confusing. In an effort to straighten things out, Korea.net presents this table showing both names and the meaning of the latter:

Descriptive

Translation

Honorific

Translation

Bukdaemun

Great North Gate

Sukjeongmun

rule solemnly

Jahamun

Jaha Valley Gate

Changuimun

showing the correct thing

Namdaemun

Great South Gate

Sungnyemun

exalted ceremonies

-

-

Gwanghuimun

bright light

Dongdaemun

Great East Gate

Heunginjimun

rising benevolence

Dongsomun

Small East Gate

Hyehwamun

distribution of wisdom

Seodaemun

Great West Gate

Donuimun

loyalty

Seosomun

Small West Gate

Souimun

promotion of justice

This depiction of old Seoul shows the locations of the old city wall and gates, as well as the mountains.

At the start of the Joseon Dynasty the capital was moved from Gaeseong to Hanyang (Seoul's name then). There was some semblance of wall, but it was in need of repair and extension. The plan was to make the fortress wall about 18 kilometers long, and to link the four major mountains that bounded old Seoul: Nam-san, Bugak-san, Nak-san and Inwang-san. It took some time to complete this project, since building could only occur when there was enough labor. Korea was an agricultural society, so this meant labor was only available when people were neither sowing nor harvesting crops.

Namdaemun in the past

The wall constructed then was further upgraded during the reign of the Great King Sejong, the one who invented Hangeul, Korea's alphabet. Although the city's population was only about 100,000, he mobilized more than 300,000 people in the cold winter month of January to complete this project. After this, the fortress wall was maintained and only substantially added to once, in 1704, when King Sukjong had it repaired fully and the northern fortress of Bukhan-san Fortress to bolster the city's defenses.

The rebuilt Hyehwamun

The 20th century brought modernity to Seoul with a shock, both before and during Japanese colonization (1910-45). A foretaste of this was in 1899, when Seoul's first streetcar, or tram line, was being built between Cheongnyangni in the city's east and Seodaemun in the west. A section of wall between the East and West Gates was demolished. Later, another section in the south around Namdaemun was destroyed in order to facilitate a tram line from Yongsan to Jongno. There are some old pictures and postcards that show a tram running through Namdaemun itself. Seoul itself was expanding, and the old city walls were a hindrance to progress. Under Japan, Seodaemun, Seosomun and Dongsomun were destroyed completely. The last was reconstructed in recent decades, along with a section of wall there.

Artist's conception of the reconstructed Namdaemun

Of the four gates, until recently, only Namdaemun and Dongdaemun were open to the public. A work of arson in early 2008 severely damaged the former, and it is under repair until sometime in the next decade. A section of wall on either side of the gate is to be reconstructed, too.

Now, the sections of the wall left standing have been designated Historic Site number 10. They can be found in the mountainous areas of Seoul - a small section on Namsan in the south and a much longer section in the north of Seoul on Bugak-san. This section, and Bukdaemun with it, was long off limits to civilians, because they came too close to the presidential complex of Cheong Wa Dae. The gate itself was closed in 1413 along with Seodaemun, on the advice of Cho Yang-sun, a renowned scholar of "pung su" (what is known in English - borrowed from Chinese - as feng shui). He argued that it blocked the energy of Gyeongbok Palace, where the royal court lived. It was only in April 2006 that people were allowed to walk along the wall and approach the gate.

Sukjeongmun today

However, security is still an issue and people wanting to go there must bring a passport and registration card and write a written application form to visit the gate and wall. You can find the application form and more information on the website (English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean). There is also a telephone number (02) 730-9924, or 1330 for free interpreting.

The north gate also has an offline information center, which is situated next to Samcheonggak - itself well worth a visit. From here you can submit your application and make a fortress hike. To find out more about it and how to get to Samcheonggak, click here.

The old north gate and wall in the past

A helpful and attractive English language brochure on the fortress wall of Bugak-san has been jointly released by the Culture Heritage Administration, and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation. It can be found at most good tourist inmformation centers, such as the one at Gwanghwamun intersection in downtown Seoul, near edit 6 of Gwanghwamun subway station.

For a long article in Korean (with spectacular large photographs and diagrams showing the construction of the gates and walls) see this website.

By Jacco Zwetsloot
Korea.net Staff Writer & Editor

I want to

Trackback :: http://www.koreaaward.com/kor/index.php?document_srl=5616&act=trackback&key=308

List

List of Articles

No.	Subject	Category	Date	Views
Stroll through Jeonju Hanok village and experience its elegance Category Travel Summer has almost passed in Korea, yet tourists still flow down to Jeolla-do (Jeolla Province) to spend their summer vacation time with family members in historic, scenic places surrounded by pristine, beautiful nature. For those who would like to introduce their friends or children to traditional Korean culture and have a tranquil... Aug 26, 2009 Views 43595
Celebrate Korean spicy chicken and buckwheat noodles in Chuncheon Category Travel The Chuncheon Makguksu and Dakgalbi Festival will run for six days from Aug. 26 to 31. Makguksu, a Korean buckwheat noodle and dakgalbi, a Korean style chicken dish, are two typical dishes of the Chuncheon area, highlighted through this annual festival each summer. The festival will have a main performance stage, exhibitions, and free foo... Aug 26, 2009 Views 39916
Korea launches its first space rocket Category National Korea's Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) rocket, or Naro, blasts off the ground on Tuesday (Aug. 25). (Photo: Yonhap News) Korea's first space rocket Naro, or KSLV-1 (Korea's Space Launch Vehicle-1), was launched into orbit on Tuesday (Aug. 25). About 215 seconds after lift-off, the payoff fairing separated from the rocket. Then f... Aug 25, 2009 Views 41036
President Lee meets N. Korea's special envoys Category National President Lee Myung-bak (right) and North Korea's chief envoy Kim Ki-nam at Cheong Wa Dae on Sunday (Aug. 23) South Korean President Lee Myung-bak met a high-level North Korean delegation at Cheong Wa Dae, early Sunday (Aug. 23), presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said. The North Korean envoys crossed the inter-Korean border ... Aug 24, 2009 Views 39328
Significance of Kim Dae-jung's Funeral at the National Assembly Category National Mourners flowed in and out all day at the outdoor ceremonial funeral stage set up at the National Assembly for the late former Korean President Kim Dae-jung. Final preparations were being made on Saturday, one day before the scheduled state funeral, the first for a former president. The National Assembly had special meaning for ... Aug 23, 2009 Views 41037
Korea posts highest Q2 GDP growth among OECD members Category National The Korean economy recorded the highest level of GDP growth out of all OECD members in the second quarter, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance on Aug. 20 quoted the OECD report as saying. Korea's GDP in the period went up 2.3 percent from the previous quarter, which was the greatest increase among 29 OECD countries.... Aug 22, 2009 Views 43308
The gates and walls of Seoul Category Culture Dongdaemun today Okay, most people who have been in Seoul for more than a year know that Seoul was once a fortified city - meaning a city with a wall around it. This was to prevent the capital from attack by invaders but also to control who moved into and out of the city through its 4 large and 4 small gates. But how many ... Aug 22, 2009 Views 49315
Hangeul now used as writing system by Indonesian tribe Category Culture The project of Hangeul (the Korean writing system) globalization has borne its first fruit, linguists in Seoul said recently. The Hunminjeongeum Society, under the aegis of Seoul National University, said last week that an Indonesian minority tribe living in the city of Bau-Bau had adopted Hangeul as its official alphabet. Although h... Aug 21, 2009 Views 45360
Seoulites celebrate new Gwanghwamun Plaza Category Travel Gwanghwamun Plaza (Photo: Yonhap News) Since the official opening of the newly renovated Gwanghwamun Plaza, located in front of -- and named after -- the main gate of Gyeongbokgung (Gyeongbok Palace), on Aug. 1, more than one million people have visited it, according to Seoul Metropolitan Government on Aug. 9. More than 400,00... Aug 21, 2009 Views 40403
Intrepid six race around the world to promote Korean sovereignty Category People The members of Dokdo Racers (from left to right, clockwise): Han Sang-Yeop, Choi Ga-Youn, Bae Sung-Hwan, Yoon Ji-Young, Chunng Jin-Won, Lee Han-Nah Traveling always sounds exciting, and overseas travel is twice the fun. But for these six young Koreans, their trip has more meaning than just adventure and exploration. Unlike or... Aug 14, 2009 Views 40542

No.

Subject

Category

Date

Views

Stroll through Jeonju Hanok village and experience its elegance file

Category Travel

Summer has almost passed in Korea, yet tourists still flow down to Jeolla-do (Jeolla Province) to spend their summer vacation time with family members in historic, scenic places surrounded by pristine, beautiful nature. For those who would like to introduce their friends or children to traditional Korean culture and have a tranquil...

Aug 26, 2009
Views 43595

Celebrate Korean spicy chicken and buckwheat noodles in Chuncheon file

Category Travel

The Chuncheon Makguksu and Dakgalbi Festival will run for six days from Aug. 26 to 31. Makguksu, a Korean buckwheat noodle and dakgalbi, a Korean style chicken dish, are two typical dishes of the Chuncheon area, highlighted through this annual festival each summer. The festival will have a main performance stage, exhibitions, and free foo...

Aug 26, 2009
Views 39916

Korea launches its first space rocket file

Category National

Korea's Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) rocket, or Naro, blasts off the ground on Tuesday (Aug. 25). (Photo: Yonhap News) Korea's first space rocket Naro, or KSLV-1 (Korea's Space Launch Vehicle-1), was launched into orbit on Tuesday (Aug. 25). About 215 seconds after lift-off, the payoff fairing separated from the rocket. Then f...

Aug 25, 2009
Views 41036

President Lee meets N. Korea's special envoys file

Category National

President Lee Myung-bak (right) and North Korea's chief envoy Kim Ki-nam at Cheong Wa Dae on Sunday (Aug. 23) South Korean President Lee Myung-bak met a high-level North Korean delegation at Cheong Wa Dae, early Sunday (Aug. 23), presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said. The North Korean envoys crossed the inter-Korean border ...

Aug 24, 2009
Views 39328

Significance of Kim Dae-jung's Funeral at the National Assembly file

Category National

Mourners flowed in and out all day at the outdoor ceremonial funeral stage set up at the National Assembly for the late former Korean President Kim Dae-jung. Final preparations were being made on Saturday, one day before the scheduled state funeral, the first for a former president. The National Assembly had special meaning for ...

Aug 23, 2009
Views 41037

Korea posts highest Q2 GDP growth among OECD members file

Category National

The Korean economy recorded the highest level of GDP growth out of all OECD members in the second quarter, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance on Aug. 20 quoted the OECD report as saying. Korea's GDP in the period went up 2.3 percent from the previous quarter, which was the greatest increase among 29 OECD countries....

Aug 22, 2009
Views 43308

The gates and walls of Seoul file

Category Culture

Dongdaemun today Okay, most people who have been in Seoul for more than a year know that Seoul was once a fortified city - meaning a city with a wall around it. This was to prevent the capital from attack by invaders but also to control who moved into and out of the city through its 4 large and 4 small gates. But how many ...

Aug 22, 2009
Views 49315

Hangeul now used as writing system by Indonesian tribe file

Category Culture

The project of Hangeul (the Korean writing system) globalization has borne its first fruit, linguists in Seoul said recently. The Hunminjeongeum Society, under the aegis of Seoul National University, said last week that an Indonesian minority tribe living in the city of Bau-Bau had adopted Hangeul as its official alphabet. Although h...

Aug 21, 2009
Views 45360

Seoulites celebrate new Gwanghwamun Plaza file

Category Travel

Gwanghwamun Plaza (Photo: Yonhap News) Since the official opening of the newly renovated Gwanghwamun Plaza, located in front of -- and named after -- the main gate of Gyeongbokgung (Gyeongbok Palace), on Aug. 1, more than one million people have visited it, according to Seoul Metropolitan Government on Aug. 9. More than 400,00...

Aug 21, 2009
Views 40403

Intrepid six race around the world to promote Korean sovereignty file

Category People

The members of Dokdo Racers (from left to right, clockwise): Han Sang-Yeop, Choi Ga-Youn, Bae Sung-Hwan, Yoon Ji-Young, Chunng Jin-Won, Lee Han-Nah Traveling always sounds exciting, and overseas travel is twice the fun. But for these six young Koreans, their trip has more meaning than just adventure and exploration. Unlike or...

Aug 14, 2009
Views 40542

List

Write

First Page 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Last Page

Descriptive	Translation	Honorific	Translation
Bukdaemun	Great North Gate	Sukjeongmun	rule solemnly
Jahamun	Jaha Valley Gate	Changuimun	showing the correct thing
Namdaemun	Great South Gate	Sungnyemun	exalted ceremonies
-	-	Gwanghuimun	bright light
Dongdaemun	Great East Gate	Heunginjimun	rising benevolence
Dongsomun	Small East Gate	Hyehwamun	distribution of wisdom
Seodaemun	Great West Gate	Donuimun	loyalty
Seosomun	Small West Gate	Souimun	promotion of justice

About Korea

■ Korean News Today

The gates and walls of Seoul