Daehanmun Gate of Deoksugung Palace

About this place

Daehanmun (大漢門) is the main gate of Deoksugung Palace; the name 'Daehan' means 'Hanyang shall flourish.' The original main gate of Gyeongun-gung was Inhwamun to the south, but as the area around the eastern Daeanmun became the new city center together with Hwangudan altar, that gate took on the role of main entrance. The present name was adopted during repairs in 1906 (Gwangmu 10). Daehanmun originally stood about 33 m further forward; it was moved to its current spot during the widening of Taepyeongno in the 1970s. The Geumcheongyo bridge inside the gate was excavated and restored in 1986.