seokigraph

Mt. Namsan is a symbolic mountain located at the center of Seoul. Although not as high as other surrounding mountains, Mt. Namsan is a very popular nonetheless as a resting site. At the top, there are various facilities such as Palgakjeong (octagonal hall), Seoul Tower, Maritime Aquarium, fountains, and Namsan Library. You may take a cable car to the top or walk up the stairway path. Other than this path, there are many other walkways to Namdaemun, Hoehyun-dong, Taegyero 3(sam)-ga, Jangchung Park, Itaewon, Huam-dong and much more. The driving courses here are also popular for couples. Namsan Park is a historical site. You will find Bonghwadae (beacon mound) at the top as it was once the center of capital defense. During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) the capital was changed to Hanyang,(current Seoul) and to protect the city from invasions, castle walls were built on the 4 major mountains like Mt. Bukaksan, Mt. Inwangsan, Mt. Naksan and Mt. Namsan. On Namsan peak, five beacons w...

Founded in 1926, Seoul City Hall is a Renaissance-style stone building. The former Seoul City Hall, which was constructed in 1926, has been remodeled as the Seoul Metropolitan Library and is open to everyone. Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall is a historic site where the March 1, 1919 (Samil) Independence Movement and the pro-democracy movement in June 1987 were held. It is also a well-known place where tens of thousands of Korean soccer fans came to cheer at during the 2002 World Cup Games. This oval grass square in front of Seoul City Hall, re-established in 2004, is used as a place to hold various events and cultural festivals like “Hi! Seoul Festival,” and is enjoyed by many Seoulites as a place to rest. One of the attractions of Seoul Plaza is the Floor Water Fountain, which looks like a normal sidewalk but shoots water up very high from the floor when you walk across it. The 48 floor lights along the grass square and Fala- a round type outer wall clock- are other attractive ...

Jongmyo Shrine in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is the royal shrine interred with tablets of royal family of the Joseon Dynasty and the place where the memorial services for the kings and queens were performed. The place itself has the greatest religious implications from a Confucian perspective and it is a sacred site that has the legitimacy of political principal of the time. It is also a great representation of the culture and legacy in the royal history. The shrine was first built around the end of 14th century by King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty. Unfortunately, it had to undergo reconstruction around 17th century after the complete destruction due to Japanese invasion in 1592. Fortunately enough, it was suggested that the shrine’s originality and structures are well maintained, preserving the spiritual beliefs valued by generations of Korean. Therefore, the unique atmosphere found from the ground and entire compound in sum are considered to be a one-of-a-kind historical monu...

Sungnyemun Gate is Korea’s National Treasure No. 1, and its unofficial name is Namdaemun Gate. Sungnyemun Gate is the largest castle gate stone structure with an arched entrance in the middle. There’s a column on top of a platform, raising the roof, distinguishing the upper stories and lower stories of the building. Passageways for traffic are located at the east and west ends of the gate. Different from the other gates, Sungnyemun Gate’s tablet has its name written vertically. On February 10, 2008, Sungnyemun was destroyed by fire. After a 5-year reconstruction work, the gate was re-opened to the public again as of May 4, 2013.

Heunginjimun Gate was built to protect Hanseongbu, which historically housed important government facilities. Heunginjimun Gate was the gate on the east side of the outer wall of Seoul Fortress among eight gates. It is referred to as Dongdaemun Gate as well. The gate was constructed during King Taejo’s 5th year in 1396, remodeled during the reign of King Danjong in 1453 and was newly built in 1869 during the sixth year of King Gojong’s reign in 1869. The gate features a hipped roof which has five front compartments and two side compartments on a two-storied building. The thin and weak bracket system supports the eaves and is excessively decorated, reflecting the construction features of the late Joseon period. Also, outside of the fortress is the half-circle shaped Ongseong, a small wall, to protect the gate. One of the unique factors of Heunginjimun Gate is that it is the only gate among Seoul’s eight to have Ongseong, further exhibiting the style of construction used during...