Old Seoul Map Tile

Namdaemun (Korean: 남대문; lit. 'South Great Gate'), a.k.a. the Sungnyemun (숭례문; lit. 'Honoring Propriety Gate'), is the southern gate of The Eight Gates of Seoul making part of the Seoul City Wall marking the city's original boundary during the Joseon period, although the city has since significantly outgrown it after that. It is located in Jung District between Seoul Station and Seoul Plaza, with the historic 24-hour Namdaemun Market next to the gate. The gate, first built in the last year of King Taejo of Joseon's reign in 1398, is a historic pagoda-style gateway, and is designated as South Korea's first National Treasure. It was once one of the three major gateways through Seoul's city walls which had a stone circuit of 18.2 kilometres (11.3 mi) and stood up to 6.1 metres (20 ft) high. It was rebuilt in 1447. Namdaemun was the oldest wooden structure in Seoul until 2008, when its wooden pagoda atop the gate was severely damaged by arson. Restoration work on the gateway started in February 2010 and was completed on 29 April 2013.