Geonchunmun Gate is the eastern gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Symbolizing the east through the word "spring" in its name, the full name means "promoting spring". In most cases, only senior government officials were allowed to pass through. It is located next to Bukchon village, which is now famous for its traditional Korean houses. In the Joseon Dynasty, the people who usually lived in this village were noblemen such as the prime minister and vice minister.

The current Geonchunmun Gate was restored in 1865. The original gate was first built in 1395 under the reign of King Taejo and rebuilt in 1428. However, it was burnt down during the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592 and was neglected for around 270 years until the restoration project was begun.

The ceiling of the gate is painted with a blue dragon in the east and a yellow dragon in the west. In the painting, the two dragons are fighting over a ball. It is said that the blue dragon guarded the east, whereas the yellow dragon symbolized the king. The structure of the gate is the same as the western gate, Yeongchumun Gate. It is a single-story gate tower built on top of stonework with an arched door. On both sides of the stone walls in the inner part of Gyeongbokgung Palace, there were stone steps leading up to the gatehouse without handrails.

Geonchunmun Gate has recorded a sad story in history. In 1896, Emperor Gojong, the last monarch of Joseon, escaped the palace through this gate five months after his wife was assassinated. Since then, he has never returned to Gyeongbokgung Palace.