Overview
Sungnyemun, the Gate of Exalted Ceremonies, is popularly known as Namdaemun, the Great South Gate. It was built in 1396–1398 as the southern gate of Seoul’s old city wall in the first years of the Joseon dynasty, and was renovated repeatedly thereafter, notably in the mid-15th century.
Description
The gate is a two-storey wooden gatehouse standing on a stone base. For centuries it remained the oldest wooden structure in Seoul, and it is the first item on South Korea’s National Treasure list.
History and legacy
In February 2008 an arson fire destroyed most of the wooden gatehouse, a loss that shocked the country. It was rebuilt with traditional carpentry and materials, drawing on the detailed surveys made before the fire, and reopened in 2013. Today it stands beside Namdaemun Market amid modern downtown Seoul.