The Eight Gates of Seoul are a series of historic gates located in Seoul, South Korea. The gates were constructed between 1396 and 1398, and allowed access to the city, which was surrounded by the Seoul City Wall during the Joseon period.
The Eight Gates were based roughly in the four cardinal and four intermediate directions of the compass. Of the eight gates, the North, South, East, and West were known as the “Four Great Gates” (사대문), while the Northwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest gates were known as the “Four Small Gates” (사소문). Of the eight gates, two (West and Southwest) no longer exist. Memorials are instead currently placed roughly where the West and Southwest gates once stood (July 2012).
There has been discussion and announcements about rebuilding the West Gate, but no construction has yet been undertaken (as of July 2012) for this gate.
All Gates are semi/Fully Connected to what is known as the Hanyangdoseong, Seoul City Wall, a defensive wall first built by the King Taejo of Joseon dynasty to defend the downtown area of Joseon's capital city Hanseong (한성; 漢城). The wall, which follows the ridges of Baegak (Bugaksan), Naksan (Naktasan), Namsan (Mongmyeoksan) and Inwangsan, the four main mountains surrounding the center of Seoul, has been constantly managed since its initial construction in 1396. The wall measures between 5 and 8m high and is 18.6km long and it bears witness to the role played by a city wall in the life of a capital city, still sustained in modern day Seoul. It was designated as a Historic Site of South Korea in 1963, and is currently a tourist attraction around Downtown Seoul.
Hanyangdoseong, completed in 30 years, was torn down in many parts due to city planning initiatives and the introduction of trams lines. However, significant sections of the wall remain. The best-preserved and well-known course is the Wall of Mt. Bukaksan, the 2.3-km trail which cuts through Sukjeongmun to Changuimun. Previously off-limits to the public after having been designated as a Military Reserve area due to its close proximity to Cheongwadae, it opened to the public in 2006. With very few alterations or artificial structures surrounding the area over the years, the natural environment remains relatively intact.