South Korea's Premier National Treasure Opens Its Doors to Visitors

Sungnyemun, also known as Sung Ceremony Gate or Namdaemun, was constructed 600 years ago in the capital city Seoul and is considered one of the foremost national treasures of the land of kimchi.

In 1394, when Hanyang became the capital, King Lee Sung-kye decided to build four main gates and four auxiliary gates to enter the capital. The main gates faced the four directions of the capital, and the gate facing south is Sung Ceremony Gate.

Sung Ceremony Gate serves a more significant feng shui role than a military defense role. Given its cultural and spiritual importance in South Korea, this structure was designated as the country's number one national cultural heritage in 1961.

However, the event that brought even more fame to Sung Ceremony Gate was the shocking Sung Ceremony Gate Fire in 2008. The fire engulfed and destroyed the entire wooden structure above the gate, leaving over 360 firefighters helpless. The culprit was a 69-year-old man disgruntled about the government's land compensation issues. He had also been indicted for burning Changyeong Palace in Seoul.

A major restoration campaign has been carried out over the past 5 years, involving 35,000 workers, scientists, historians, and artists. This week, this national treasure reopened its doors to tourists, bringing joy to the people of South Korea.

Visitors can explore this historical site and learn about Seoul's history dating back 600 years through guided tours or specific information boards. To commemorate this occasion, the South Korean government has decided to extend the opening hours of the Sung Ceremony Gate until 7 pm every day in May (instead of the usual 6 pm).

Every year, following the Korean tradition, people gather here to dance, sing, perform, and conduct rituals to ward off misfortunes throughout the year.

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Source: Travel Guide Mytour – By Xzone.