Gwanghwamun Gate

Gwanghwamun Gate stands out with its triple-arched stone base topped by a two-story wooden pavilion painted in vivid crimson, gold, and green. As the main entrance to Gyeongbokgung Palace, it marked the boundary between the king’s private residence and the administrative heart of Seoul. During the Japanese occupation in the nineteen twenties, authorities moved the gate aside to make room for a new government building. The structure was later destroyed by fire during the Korean War, leaving only the granite foundation behind.