Lost in time, Seoul City Wall stands as a testament to a bygone era. Hanyangdoseong, the Seoul City Wall, once guarded the capital city for over 600 years. Built in 1396, it’s more than just a wall.
The Seoul City Wall snakes along the contours of Bugaksan Mountain Naksan Mountain Namsan Mountain and Inwangsan Mountain. Its total length was 18.6km. Today about 13km of it is preserved.
Imagine Hanyang, the old name for Seoul during the Joseon Dynasty. King Yi Seong-gye established Hanyang as the new capital in 1394. He ordered the construction of the Seoul City Wall in 1396. This fortress became known as Hanyangdoseong.
The Seoul City Wall served not only for defense but also as a boundary. It separated the city center from the outer areas.
Originally, the Seoul City Wall had eight gates. These gates controlled access to the city. The Four Great Gates were Sukjeongmun Heunginjimun Sungnyemun and Dongeuimun. The Four Minor Gates were Changuimun Hyehwamun Gwanghuimun and Soeuimun. Today only six of these gates remain.
Notice the stones in Seoul City Wall. The original walls used medium-sized round stones. They were held together by mud. Later King Sejong the Great replaced some sections with rectangular stones. King Sukjong rebuilt sections using large uniform stone slabs.
The eastern section needed extra protection. It lay on lower ground. A lookout was added to Heunginjimun. Beacon mounds formed a communication system. Signals relayed across the country reached Namsan and the Royal Palace. One fire meant normalcy. Five fires signaled a battle.
During the Japanese colonial era parts of the Seoul City Wall were torn down. This was to modernize Seoul. Yet much of the wall survives. It stands in the Jongno and Jung districts. It’s a historic site and a tourist attraction.
You can even hike along the Seoul City Wall. The city operates a stamp trail tour. It’s divided into six trails. They are Baegak Mountain Trail Naksan Mountain Trail Heunginjimun Gate Trail Namsan Mountain Trail Sungnyemun Gate Trail and Inwangsan Mountain Trail.
Seoul City Wall continues to watch over us. It is a silent guardian of the city. Take a moment to appreciate this enduring symbol of Seoul’s rich history. It’s a journey through time etched in stone.