Namdaemun

37°33′36″N 126°58′31″E / 37.56000°N 126.97528°E / 37.56000; 126.97528

Namdaemun
Namdaemun in 2013
General information
Town or city	Jung-gu, Seoul
Country	South Korea
Coordinates	37°33′36″N 126°58′31″E / 37.56000°N 126.97528°E / 37.56000; 126.97528
Opened	1398
Korean name
Hangul	남대문
Hanja	南大門
Revised Romanization	Namdaemun
McCune–Reischauer	Namdaemun
Official name
Hangul	숭례문
Hanja	崇禮門
Revised Romanization	Sungnyemun
McCune–Reischauer	Sungnyemun

Namdaemun (Korean: 남대문; lit. South Great Door), officially known as the Sungnyemun (숭례문; lit. Honoring Propriety Gate),^[1] is one of the Eight Gates in the Fortress Wall of Seoul, South Korea. The gate formed the original southern boundary of the city during the Joseon period, although the city has since significantly outgrown this boundary. It is located in Jung-gu between Seoul Station and Seoul Plaza, with the historic 24-hour Namdaemun Market next to the gate.

The gate, dating back to the 14th century, is a historic pagoda-style gateway, and is designated as the first National Treasure of South Korea.^[2] 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 first built in the last year of King Taejo of Joseon's reign in 1398, and rebuilt in 1447.

In 2008, the 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. The gate was reopened on 4 May 2013.