| Heunginjimun | |
|---|---|
흥인지문 | |
 | |
 | |
| Alternative names | Dongdaemun(동대문) |
| General information | |
| Type | Fortress gate |
| Location | Jongno 288 |
| Address | Jongno-gu, |
| Town or city | Seoul |
| Country | South Korea |
| Construction started | 1396 |
| Renovated | 1453 1869 |
| Owner | Government of South Korea |
| Management | Jongno-gu Office |
| Other information | |
| Public transit access | Dongdaemun Station(Line 1) |
| Dongdaemun | |
 Heunginjimun signboard, written byYi Hwang | |
| Korean name | |
|---|---|
| Hangul | 동대문, 흥인지문 |
| Hanja | 東大門, 興仁之門 |
| Revised Romanization | Dongdaemun, Heunginjimun |
| McCune–Reischauer | Tongdaemun, Hŭnginjimun |
Heunginjimun (Korean: 흥인지문;lit. Gate of Rising Benevolence), more commonly known asDongdaemun (동대문;lit. Eastern Great Gate), is one ofThe Eight Gates of Seoul in theFortress Wall of Seoul, a prominent landmark in centralSeoul, South Korea. TheKorean name "Dongdaemun" means "Great East Gate," and it was so named because it was the major eastern gate in the wall that surrounded Seoul during theJoseon period. The gate is located atJongno 6-ga inJongno District.
The structure was first built byKing Taejo during his fifth year of reign (1398). It was renovated in 1453, and the current structure is the one rebuilt in 1869.Heunginjimun shows architectural style of the late Joseon period. The most unusual characteristic is its built outer wall, Ongseong. Ongseong was constructed to compensate the weakness of the target from multiple invaders, protecting the gate.[1]
Heunginjimun is located at the intersection ofsubway lines1 and4, atDongdaemun Station (동대문역). The gate is within easy reach of exit 1 or exits 6–10 of this station.
Construction of theDongdaemun Design Plaza, a majorurban development landmark designed byZaha Hadid, started in 2009 to renovate what used to be Dongdaemun Stadium (an amateurbaseball park) and was officially inaugurated on March 21, 2014.[2] This landmark, also called the DDP, is the centerpiece of South Korea's fashion hub and popular tourist destination and has been one of the main reasons for Seoul's designation asWorld Design Capital in 2010.
In August 2011, the roof of the gate was partially damaged by record rainfall. The large amount of rain resulted in chipping of the roof's ridge. An official of the Cultural Heritage Administration stated that "The aged gate underwent repairs in 1998 and seems to have become soaked in heavy rains".[3]
By 2025, the area around Dongdaemun known asDongdaemun Market has grown into the largest shopping center in South Korea, popular with both foreigners and natives.
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37°34′16.15″N127°0′34.70″E / 37.5711528°N 127.0096389°E /37.5711528; 127.0096389