Heunginjimun Gate

흥인지문

The eastern gate of the walled city, designated a Treasure in 1963. A crescent-shaped barbican wraps its outer face — the only one of the four main gates built with one.

Language

Heunginjimun Gate seen over its semicircular barbican: a loopholed brick parapet in front, the two-tiered pavilion rising behind it with the plaque reading 興仁之門 under the eaves, and pink azaleas flowering along the base of the wall.

Place information

Korean name: 흥인지문
Address: 288 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Jongno 6-ga)
Operated by: Jongno-gu Office

History

One of the eight gates in the city wall of Seoul, it is also called Dongdaemun ("Great East Gate") because of its eastern position. It was built when the city wall was constructed under King Taejo and rebuilt under King Danjong. The four main gates were named using the characters for benevolence, righteousness, propriety and wisdom, and the east gate was named Heunginmun. The present gate was built under King Gojong.

1453
Rebuilding under King Danjong
1869
Construction of the present gate

Korea Heritage Portal — Heunginjimun, Treasure: location, designation date (1963-01-21) and custodian · Sep 25, 2026

What to see

Gate pavilion

An arched passage runs through the stone platform joined to the wall, with a two-storey gate pavilion above it; only two of Seoul's gates have a pavilion of two storeys. A commander stayed here to guard the gate and direct troops when needed, while the brick outer wall and wooden-panel windows helped defend it; the simple structure and extensive decoration show features of 19th-century architecture.

Nearby

Dongdaemun Design Plaza

It closes three days a year and otherwise runs 10:00 to 20:00, but that figure covers the site, not what is inside it — each hall keeps its own hours according to whatever exhibition is running. Check the programme, not the building.

Gwangjang Market

Go with several small dishes in mind and compare posted prices before ordering; individual stalls keep their own hours and closing days.

Naksan Park

A park on the lowest of the four hills that ringed the old walled city. A stretch of the city wall runs along its ridge, and the centre of Seoul lies below it on the far side.

Jongmyo Shrine

Plan around the admission system: weekday access may be limited to timed guided groups, while self-guided entry is offered on designated days.

Stories about this place

Seoul City Wall and Its Historic Sites: Sungnyemun, Jongmyo, Bukchon
Hanyangdoseong, two of its gates (Sungnyemun and Heunginjimun) and four places inside the wall — Jongmyo, Unhyeongung, Bukchon and Namsangol Hanok Villages — set out by who each suits, whether you can go in, opening hours and closing days, getting there and the order to visit. Three of the seven are places you enter, and two of those three are free.

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