Namdaemun

Welcome to the heart of Seoul. Before you stands Sungnyemun, widely known as Namdaemun or the Great South Gate. …

Standing here in the front plaza, your eyes are naturally drawn upward to the magnificent wooden pavilion. Focus your attention on the large wooden plaque hanging prominently just beneath the sweeping roof. …

Please step right up to the massive stone base of the gate, so close that you can almost reach out and touch the ancient granite. This formidable foundation is known as the seokchuk. …

You are now standing at the threshold of the Hongyemun, the great arched passageway that pierces straight through the center of the stone base. Go ahead and step inside the tunnel. …

You have now emerged from the archway and are standing in the rear plaza, looking back up at the inner face of Sungnyemun. This area is peaceful today, often filled with tourists taking photographs. …

While still standing in the rear plaza, shift your gaze upwards to the intricate wooden architecture of the first floor pavilion. Notice the vibrant, mesmerizing colors painted onto the wooden beams. …

Please take a few steps back from the gate to get a wider perspective, allowing your eyes to travel all the way up to the very top of the structure. Focus your attention on the magnificent, undulating expanse of the dark grey…

For our final specific stop before concluding the tour, turn your attention to the sections of the stone fortress wall that extend outward from the flanks of the gate. While we discussed how the walls were severed by the Japanese…

We have now reached the conclusion of our deep historical dive into Sungnyemun. As you prepare to leave the immediate precinct of the gate and step back into the rushing current of modern Seoul, I invite you to take one final,…