History of Seoul

The Amsa-dong Prehistoric Site contains rows of reconstructed pit houses, built into the earth with roofs that slope down to the ground. This location along the Han River is the largest known settlement of its kind in Korea, holding…

Mongchontoseong Fortress is defined by its massive, sloping earthen ramparts that rise above the surrounding parkland. Stretching for nearly three kilometers, these banks were built by piling layers of clay and sand along the natural…

Jongmyo Shrine is defined by the Jeongjeon Hall, a long, horizontal wooden structure stretching one hundred and nine meters that ranks among the longest single-piece wooden buildings in the world. This is the primary Confucian royal shrine…

Gyeongbokgung Palace, the first royal residence of the Joseon Dynasty, is defined by the massive, stone-walled Gwanghwamun Gate that guards its southern entrance. Established in thirteen ninety-five by King Taejo, the palace was designed…

Deoksugung Palace is distinguished by its neoclassical Seokjojeon Hall, a stark stone building with European columns that sits among traditional tiled Korean structures. While most palaces in Seoul represent the long span of the Joseon…

Sungnyemun Gate, often called Namdaemun, stands as a heavy stone base topped by a two-story wooden pavilion with a hip-and-gable roof. As the primary southern gate of the original Seoul City Wall, it was completed in thirteen ninety-eight…

The Seodaemun Prison History Hall is defined by its austere, red-brick perimeter walls and the imposing, multi-story prison blocks that rise within them. Originally opened in nineteen oh eight by imperial Japanese authorities as…