Dongdaemun ( cor. 동대문 ? , 東 大門? , Large eastern gate ) also Hinjingzhimun (literally “gate of rising kindness”) is the gate in the center of Seoul , one of the symbols of the city .
| Monument | |
| Dongdaemun Gate | |
|---|---|
| A country |  The Republic of Korea |
| City | Seoul |
| Building | 1398 |
In Korean, “Dongdaemun” means “Great Eastern Gate”, this name was given because of the main eastern gate in the wall that surrounded Seoul during the times of the Chosun dynasty .
History
Dongdaemun was built during the reign of King Taejo in 1398, reconstructed in 1453 , and acquired its modern look in 1896 .
Market
To date, the area around Tongdaemun is occupied by the so-called. Dongdaemun market ( corr. 동대문 시장 ); it includes prestigious shopping areas, as well as several underground shops, kiosks and markets that are open for most of the day. This area has grown into the largest shopping center in South Korea. In 2007, a design project for the improvement of Dongdaemun for the reconstruction of the territory previously occupied by Dongdaemun Stadium ( baseball field) was started in Seoul. Designed with world renowned architect Zaha Hadid, the new design is expected to make Dongdaemun one of the most famous attractions in downtown Seoul after the completion of renovation work.
The gate is located in the Jonnogu district on the sixth street of Jonno. As of 2010, the name of the nearest Seoul metro station was changed to “Dongdaemun History and Culture Park”.