Independence Gate


The Independence Gate is a memorial gate located in Seoul, South Korea. The gate was built following the First Sino-Japanese War to inspire a spirit of independence away from Korea's previous status as a Chinese tributary state, which was declared by the Treaty of Shimonoseki. It was designed by Soh Jaipil, a Korean political activist.

Description

The Independence Gate was built to replace the Yeongeunmun Gate, which was a symbol of diplomatic relations between Korea and Qing Dynasty China. To raise funds for the building, the Independence Club collected contributions. The two supporting pillars of Yeongeunmun Gate remain in front of the Independence Gate.
Construction of the gate began on November 21, 1896, and it was completed on November 20, 1897.
The design, by Soh Jaipil, was modeled on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It measures 14.28 meters in height, 11.48 meters in width, and is made of approximately 1,850 pieces of granite.
While the Independence Gate once straddled Tongil-ro, it was moved in 1979 to accommodate the construction of the Seongsan-ro. It now stands in the Independence Park, about 70 meters northwest from its original position. Access to the gate was restricted for much of its history, but it was reopened following the completion of Seodaemun Independence Park on October 28, 2009. Visitors can now walk under the gate itself.
On July 4, 1896, Soh Jaipil wrote an editorial in Independent News expressing his congratulations on the independence of Korea from the rule of Qing.

Location

, including Independence Gate, is easily accessed from exits 4 or 5 of the Dongnimmun Station on Seoul Subway Line 3.