Sungnaemun Gate Watchmen Ceremony and Namdaemun Market.

I followed 3 watchmen heading toward Sungnaemun Gate!

Sungnaemun Gate

Inside Namdaemun Market

Sungnaemun Gate Watchman (Pasu) Ceremony
From the establishment of the Joseon Dynasty period, defense had become the most important issue. Having gone through the wars of Imjinweran (Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592) during the reign of Sunjo, and Byungjahoran (invasion by the Ching Dynasty on Korea in 1636), the issue of defending the city had become a very serious one. As such, the main military system of the capital city, Hansung, played a central role during this period. The Pasu ("defending the city wall") ceremony was a military ritual during the Joseon Dynasty that connected the opening and closing of the city gates at Injeong (10 pm) and Paru (4 am), with the Patrol ceremony. Considering the standing and role of the ceremony among central military rites, it was considered just as important as the guarding of the Royal Palace.

About Sungnaemun Gate
Originally a grand entrance to the city of Seoul, today traffic flows around instead of through Sungnaemun Gate. It has been preserved through the centuries as the city grew up around it and expanded. Today the gate is the oldest wooden structure in Seoul and is considered a national treasure (National Treasure #1!). It used to be that all visiting dignitaries were required to pass through this gate to enter the city. The gate, itself, is made of granite blocks forming a huge granite block with an arched passage through the middle. Resting on top of this structure is a traditional two-story pavilion. The gate was formerly flanked by walls protecting the city, but these were razed by the Japanese.

It was really cool to see Sungnaemun Gate--reminded me a bit of seeing the Arche du Triomphe in Paris. And right across the street from Sungnaemun is Namdaemun Market, where I wandered in and got lost! The market was packed with folks selling clothes, shoes, toys, souvenirs, pottery, everything you can think of! And there were customers squeezing in and out of the spider-like aisles underneath umbrellas, and amidst the cries of sellers hocking their wares.