Namdaemun, City gate in Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

Namdaemun is a city gate in Jung District, Seoul, South Korea. A stone base of grey, tan and cream blocks holds a single arched tunnel; above it rise two wooden pavilions with dark tiled hip-and-gable roofs, red brackets and a white band with circular motifs.

The gate was erected in 1396 under King Taejo as the main southern entrance to the capital and formed a central passage for over five centuries. Following a fire in 2008, it was rebuilt by 2013.

The gate's name, Sungnyemun, comes from the Confucian virtue of propriety (rye), one of the five virtues assigned to Seoul's gates and the central Bošin-gak. Its vertical plaque, unlike the horizontal plaques of other gates, is attributed to Prince Yangnyeong and was hung upright to counter the fire energy of Gwanaksan.

The location beside several subway lines makes access straightforward and visitors can view the structure from different angles while crossing the surrounding streets. The plaza around the building works well for photos, especially in early morning or late afternoon.

During restoration, each component received a number so craftsmen could rebuild the structure precisely using traditional methods. The tools and techniques used came from historical records of the Joseon era.