List of gates in Korea explained

There are a number of significant extant and destroyed gates in North and South Korea. The following list is arranged alphabetically by official English name.

Gates in North and South Korea

Official Name Alternate Names City, Country Notes Image
Bukammun (북암문)

North Secret Gate

Suwon, South KoreaNorth Secret Gate of Hwaseong Fortress.
Changnyongmun (창룡문)Dongmun

East Gate

Suwon, South KoreaEast Gate of Hwaseong Fortress.
Changuimun (창의문, 彰義門)

Showing the Correct Thing Gate

Buksomun (북소문)

North Small Gate

North West Gate

Jahamun

Seoul, South KoreaOriginally built in 1396. Gatehouse was burned down in 1592, and rebuilt in 1740.
Pyongyang, North KoreaThe northern gate in walled city of Pyongyang. Originally built in 6th century.

National treasure #18 of North Korea.

Seoul, South KoreaThe main gate of Deoksugung Palace.
Dongammun (동암문)

East Secret Gate

Suwon, South KoreaEast Secret Gate of Hwaseong Fortress.
Dongnimmun (독립문, 獨立門) Independence GateSeoul, South KoreaConstructed in 1896-97. Relocated in 1979.

Located in Seodaemun Independence Park

Donuimun (돈의문, 敦義門)

Loyalty Gate

Seodaemun (서대문)

West Great Gate

Seoul, South KoreaOriginally built in 1396. No longer exists.

Torn down in 1915 during the Japanese colonial period.[1]

Gaeseonmun (개선문, 凱旋門)Arch of TriumphPyongyang, North KoreaBuilt in 1982.

Commemorates Korean resistance against Japanese rule.

Seoul, South KoreaThe east gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Seoul, South KoreaThe third inner gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Gwanghuimun (광희문, 光熙門)

Bright Light Gate

Namsomun (남소문)

South Small Gate

South East Gate

Seoul, South KoreaOriginally built in 1396. Rebuilt 1711-1719.

Largely destroyed during the Korean War, but restored in 1976.[2]

Gwanghwamun (광화문, 光化門) Seoul, South KoreaOriginally built in 1395. The south and main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Heunginjimun (흥인지문, 興仁之門)

Rising Benevolence Gate

Dongdaemun (동대문)

East Great Gate

Seoul, South KoreaOriginally built 1398. Originally called Heunginmun (slightly different from present name).

Present construction dates from 1869.[3]

HeungnyemunSeoul, South KoreaThe second inner gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Hwahongmun (화홍문)Buksumun

North Water Gate

Suwon, South KoreaNorth Water Gate of Hwaseong Fortress.
Hwaseomun (화서문)West GateSuwon, South KoreaWest Gate of Hwaseong Fortress.
Hyehwamun (혜화문, 惠化門)

Distribution of Wisdom Gate

Dongsomun (동소문)

East Small GateHonghwamn

Seoul, South KoreaOriginally built in 1396. Originally called Honghwamun.[4]

Destroyed during the Japanese colonial period, but restored in 1992.

Jangammun (장안문)Bungmun

North Gate

Suwon, South KoreaNorth Gate of Hwaseong Fortress.
Jeonsungmun (전승문, 戰勝門)Bukmun(북문)

North Gate

Seongnam, South KoreaNorth Gate of Namhansanseong Fortress.
Jihwamun (지화, 至和門)Nammun(남문)

South Gate

Seongnam, South KoreaSouth Gate of Namhansanseong Fortress.
Joaikmun (좌익문, 左翼門)Dongmun(동문)

East Gate

Seongnam, South KoreaEast Gate of Namhansanseong Fortress.
Namdaemun (남대문)

South Great Gate

Kaesong, North KoreaSouth gate of the old walled city of Kaesong.Originally constructed between 1391 and 1393.

Listed among the National Treasures of North Korea.

Namsumun (남수문)

South Floodgate

Suwon, South KoreaSouth Floodgate of Hwaseong Fortress.No longer exists. Destroyed in 1922.
Paldalmun (팔달문)Nammun (남대문)

South Gate

Suwon, South KoreaSouth gate of Hwaseong Fortress.
Potongmun (보통문, 普通門)Pyongyang, North KoreaWest gate of the old walled city of Pyongyang.Originally constructed in the 6th century.

Listed as #3 among the National Treasures of North Korea.

Pungnammun (보통문, 普通門)Jeonju, South KoreaThe South Gate of Jeonju.
Seoammun (서암문)

West Secret Gate

Suwon, South KoreaWest Secret Gate of Hwaseong Fortress.
Seonam Ammun (서남암문)

South-West Secret Gate

Suwon, South KoreaSouth-West Secret Gate of Hwaseong Fortress.
Seoul, South KoreaThe north gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Souimun (소의문, 昭義門)

Promotion of Justice Gate

Seosomun (서소문)

West Small GateSodeongmun

South West

Seoul, South KoreaOriginally built in 1396. Originally called Sodeongmun.No longer exists.

Torn down in 1914 during the Japanese colonial period.

Sukjeongmun (숙정문, 肅靖門)

Rule Solemnly Gate

Bukdaemun (북대문)

North Great Gate

Seoul, South KoreaOriginally built in 1396. Originally called Sukcheongmun.
Sungnyemun (숭례문, 崇禮門)

Exalted Ceremonies Gate

Namdaemun (남대문)

South Great Gate

Seoul, South KoreaOriginally built in 1398.Heavily damaged by fire in 2008.

Currently being restored (2012).

Taedongmun (대동문, 大同門)

Great East Gate

Pyongyang, North KoreaEast gate of the old walled city of Pyongyang.Originally constructed in the 6th century.

Listed as #4 among the National Treasures of North Korea.

Wooikmun (우익문, 右翼門)Seomun(서문)

West Gate

Seongnam, South KoreaWest Gate of Namhansanseong Fortress.
Seoul, South KoreaThe west gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Yeongeunmun (迎恩門)Seoul, South KoreaOnly remnants of this gate remain.Located in Seodaemun Independence Park.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Seoul City to Restore Ancient West Gate. Chosun Ilbo.
  2. Web site: Gwanghuimun Gate. Exploring Korea. 2012-10-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20120611045410/http://www.exploringkorea.com/gwanghuimun-gate/. 2012-06-11. dead.
  3. Web site: Heunginjimun Gate. Exploring Korea. 2012-10-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20120611045420/http://www.exploringkorea.com/heunginjimun-gate/. 2012-06-11. dead.
  4. Web site: Hyehwamun Gate (Honghwamun Gate). Visit Korea.