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서울특별시 종로구 사직로 161

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Gwanghwamun is the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, serving as the principal entrance for the king. As the main gate of Gyeongbokgung, the primary palace of the Joseon Dynasty, it was far more grand and majestic in scale and formality compared to the main gates of other palaces. Moreover, Gwanghwamun had Dongshipjagak (East Pavilion) and Seoshipjagak (West Pavilion) at the eastern and western ends of its walls, respectively, making it the only palace gate among the Five Grand Palaces of Joseon to possess a full gate complex structure. Gwanghwamun consists of a two-story gate pavilion supported by a stone platform base with three arched gates (hongye). The central arch was reserved for the king, while the left and right arches were used by the crown prince and officials. A bell was hung in the gate pavilion to announce the time. The fact that Gyeongbokgung was the primary palace of the Joseon Dynasty is evident in the design of its gates, including Gwanghwamun. While the gates of other palaces were built on low platforms, Gyeongbokgung's gates were constructed on tall stone bases with arched entrances in the center, resembling fortress gates. Among them, Gwanghwamun features three arched gates, displaying the highest level of formality and clearly reflecting its status as the main gate of the primary palace. Originally, Gwanghwamun was relocated to the north of Geonchunmun, the eastern gate of the palace, during the construction of the Japanese Government-General Building. However, during the Korean War, the gate pavilion was destroyed by bombing, and the stone base was left riddled with bullet marks. It was not until 1968, under the Park Chung-hee administration, that Gwanghwamun was rebuilt in its current form. The destroyed gate pavilion was reconstructed, and Gwanghwamun was moved to its present location. However, the newly rebuilt Gwanghwamun was constructed of reinforced concrete, and at the time of reconstruction, its axis was aligned not with the central axis of Gyeongbokgung but with that of the former Japanese Government-General Building, which was then used as the Central Government Hall. As a result, it ended up deviating from its original axis by approximately 3.5 degrees. Furthermore, it was set back about 14.5 meters from its original position. To restore Gwanghwamun, which had lost its original form, demolition work began in 2006, and after three years and eight months of restoration, it was completed on August 15, 2010. A massive granite platform was built, with a two-story gate pavilion placed atop it, offering excellent views from afar and conveying the dignity befitting a main palace gate. The three arched entrances on the platform showcase Gyeongbokgung's prestige as the primary palace of Joseon. On the stone platform, a low wall was built using fired clay bricks called "jeondol," and the Eight Trigrams (palgae) patterns adorning it well reflect the characteristics of Joseon-era palace architecture.