A whisper of history clings to GongreungsanBaegsemoon a silent sentinel of Seoul’s past. The bustling city surrounds it now but GongreungsanBaegsemoon stands strong. Let me tell you the story of this storied gate.
Seoul became the capital of Korea in 1394. General Yi Seong-gye founded the Joseon Dynasty. He chose Seoul for its defensible position. It lay at the center of the peninsula. The Han River flowed nearby. This river provided access to both inland waterways and coastal routes. It was perfect according to traditional geomancy beliefs.
King Taejo built Seoul’s City Wall to protect the capital. Invaders were a constant threat during the Joseon Dynasty. The wall ran along the ridges of four mountains. These mountains were Baegak Bugaksan Naksan Namsan Mongmyeoksan and Inwangsan.
The Joseon Dynasty saw great advances in science and education. King Sejong created Hangul to promote literacy. From humble beginnings Seoul grew into a great city.
Today Seoul is a city that never sleeps. You can find almost anything open 24 hours a day. There are restaurants cafes bathhouses and karaoke rooms. Over half of South Korea’s population lives in the Seoul Capital Area. This area includes Seoul Incheon and Gyeonggi-do Province. It is roughly the size of Bhutan or Trinidad and Tobago.
Seoul is also the center of the Korean Wave. K-pop labels and dance studios call Seoul home. Visitors can immerse themselves in Korean pop culture. They can take K-pop dance classes or try a K-pop idol makeover.
But the past is always present in Seoul. Seoul preserves Hanok traditional Korean houses to maintain cultural identity. The city restores and protects these houses. Some have become museums cafes and cultural hubs.
Seoul and Tehran became sister cities in 1977. In 1978 Seoul renamed Samneungno Street to Teheran-ro. Today Teheran-ro is a major street in Gangnam. A tree on the Baegak Mountain Trail still bears bullet holes. These are from the 1968 assassination attempt on President Park Chung-hee.
The city walls like GongreungsanBaegsemoon were designated as a Historic Site of South Korea in 1963. That helped to preserve important historical places.
Seoul has transformed itself over the centuries. From a militarily defensible site. It has become a global hub. As you stand here before GongreungsanBaegsemoon think of the past. Remember the kings the battles and the builders. They all shaped this incredible city.