Gwanghwamun Gate 광화문
- +82-2-3700-3904~5, +82-2-738-9171
Founded in 1395 by the first king of the Joseon Dynasty, Gwanghwamun is the main gate of Gyeongbukgung Palace. Roughly meaning “may the light of enlightenment blanket the world,” the name symbolizes the resounding dedication that the people of the Joseon Dynasty had in creating a new dynasty. Constructed solely out of granite, its center is an entrance that resembles a rainbow, called Hongyemun. Above that is a gate tower.
Gwanghwamun holds a painful memory in Korean history. During the Japanese occupation of Korea, in order to dampen the spirits of the Korean citizens, the Japanese governing general destroyed the gate and built his own government building. The present appearance of the gate is that of 1968 when it was rebuilt using concrete, and it’s location is about 10m behind the original spot. Though Gwanghwamun is the most beautiful of the five palace gates, it was not designated by the Korean government as a national treasure because it is made purely of concrete. The government is now in the process of removing the Japanese building and restoring the palace.
Gwanghwamun has its name written on a sign on the gate, and it was personally written by then-president Park Jeong-Hui. On either side of the gate you can see the word “Haetae” facing south. Haetae is a mythical unicorn-lion that is said to protect palaces from fire. According to Pungsujirisang, there was a fire around Gwanaksan Mountain, so in order to protect the palace from fire from the mountain, these fire-eating Haetaes were put beside the gate.
Utilization information
・Information : • 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
• For more info: +82-2-3700-3904~5,
+82-2-738-9171
Admission Fees
* Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Adults 3,000 won / 2,400 won (for more than 10 people)
- Teenagers 1,500 won / 2,000 won (for more than 10 people)
Restrooms
Facilities for the Handicapped
Access
[Subway]
1) City Hall Station (Seoul Subway Line 1 & 2), Exit 3.
2) Gyeongbokgung Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 6 & 7.
3) Gwanghwamun Station (Seoul Subway Line 5), Exit 1, 2 & 8.
* Connected through the underground exit.
[Bus]
Red Bus: 5500-2, 9602, 9706, 9708, 9713
Blue Bus: 103, 150, 401, 402, 406, 408, 607,704
Green Bus: 0212, 1711, 7016, 7018, 7022, 8000
Village Bus: Jongno 09, Jongno 11
161, Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Traffic information
- Subway Line 3 Gyeongbokgung (Government Complex-Seoul) (경복궁(정부서울청사)）- 290.6m
- Subway Line 5 Gwanghwamun (Sejong Center for the Performing Arts) (광화문(세종문화회관)）- 561.3m
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