Seoul has been the center of Koreans’ lives since the establishment of the Joseon Kingdom (1391-1910). And the 18,627-meter Seoul City Wall has guarded the cosmopolitan area for more than 600 years through countless periods of hardship. 

Built for stabilization

The founder of Joseon, King Taejo (1392-1398), had to stabilize the kingdom, which was still reeling from the fall of the previous state, Goryeo (918-1392), based in Gaeseng, now in North Korea. Based on Feng Shui principles, the wall set boundaries between the city and the rest of the nation, solidifying the new capital.

After Taejo’s initial construction, his successors continued the extension, repair and maintenance of the wall.

Ruins

As the city expanded, the wall and the four gates that guarded the wall ― Sungneymun, Sukcheongmun, Heunginjimun and Doneuimun ― were considered obstacles to the growth of the nation from time to time. During Japanese rule (1910-1945) the colonial government destroyed substantial parts of the wall and the gates in the name of development.

Roads and tram rails were built at the center of the city while a Japanese shrine and Dongdaemun Stadium were constructed near the borders of the wall. The Korean War (1950-1953) and constant real estate development plans thereafter quickened its fall into disrepair. 

Recovery

As Korea became economically stable, the cultural aspect of the wall came to be appreciated. The remaining sections of the wall are now open to the public, offering places to enjoy the weekend for ordinary citizens. The city government has been keen on recovering some of the sections around the mountains. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List last year, being acknowledged for its unique and historical value.

The recent recovery project of Sungnyemun, or the South Gate of the wall, which is due to open to the public in April, also contains the reconstruction of 53 meters of the wall to the east and 16 meters to the west of the gate.

“Now the Seoul City Wall has become a place of communication more than bordering, and is subject to recovery rather than demolition,” the Seoul Museum of History said in a press release.

The museum is holding an exhibition with photographs and other materials about the past, present and possible future of the Seoul City Wall at the Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Event Hall until May 19. For more information call (02) 724-0289.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)