Yeongchumun Gate is in the west of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Considering the west symbolized the season of autumn in the Joseon Dynasty, the name of the gate literally means “greet to the autumn”.
Yeongchumun Gate was demolished during the Japanese invasion of Korea. It was restored to its original state in 1975. After the restoration, it remained closed for the security of Cheong Wa Dae, the Blue House, or the office of the President. Until 2018, it was open to the public.
There was a white giraffe painted on the ceiling when the gate was rebuilt during Emperor Gojong’s reign. It was an imaginary animal resembling a giraffe. During the Joseon Dynasty, there was a large drum in front of the gate, which was to announce the hour of the horse, referring to the time between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. It was forbidden to pound the drum randomly without permission. However, it happened once during the reign of King Sejo.
A student named Choi Uiro beat the drum of Yeongchumun Gate. He was unsatisfied about his failure to join the Royal Relative Guards, which were formed by royal relatives; his family was from the side of the Queen. He then broke into the gate by showing an urgent pass he had borrowed and making a complaint about the unfair system by beating the drum strongly, which had caused chaos. He was eventually caught by the officials of the Royal Secretariat and sent to the Ministry of Punishments for interrogation.
In the Joseon Dynasty, it was a serious crime to beat the drum without permission. The reason was that the drum told of the invasion of enemies or some other urgent incidents according to the number of strikes. After Choi Uiro was sent to the Ministry of Punishments, no one had ever beaten the drum without permission.
Now, as we walk through the Yeongchumun Gate, there is a ticket booth for Gyeongbokgung Palace. Let’s buy the ticket there before entering the palace!