Independence Gate

Independence Gate
Independence Gate (front), Seoul, South Korea
Korean name
Hangul	독립문
Hanja	獨立門
Revised Romanization	Dongnimmun
McCune–Reischauer	Tongnimmun

The Independence Gate is a memorial gate located in Seoul, South Korea. The gate was built following the first Sino-Japanese war to inspire a spirit of independence away from previous Korean arrangement as a Chinese protectorate. Its construction began on November 21, 1896, and finished November 20, 1897.

The gate measures 14.28 meters in height, 11.48 meters in width, and is made of approximately 1,850 pieces of granite. Its design modeled on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. In 1979, it was moved from an original position to 70 meters northwest by rezoning.

The Independence Gate was built to replace the Yeongeunmun Gate, which was a symbol of diplomatic relation between Korea and Qing Dynasty. To raise funds for the building, the Independence Club collected contributions.

See also

• First Sino-Japanese War
• Treaty of Shimonoseki
• Yeongeunmun Gate
• Joseon Dynasty
• Korean Empire
• Samjeondo Monument
• Seodaemun Prison

Coordinates: 37°34′20.25″N 126°57′35.23″E / 37.5722917°N 126.9597861°E / 37.5722917; 126.9597861