Heungnyemun Gate is known as the second gate entering into Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is the southern gate located between the Gwanghwamun Gate and Geunjeongmun Gate. Originally known as Hongnyemun Gate, Emperor Gojong renamed it Heungnyemun Gate so as not to be confused with the gate of the Chinese Qing Dynasty's Qianlong Emperor. “Heungnye” implies to “promote propriety” which is one of the five virtues associated with the south based on the Five Elements.

There is a tragic backstory associated with Heungnyemun Gate. It was torn down and rebuilt as the Government-General building by the Japanese under the Japanese invasion of Korea. The Japanese destroyed the gate intentionally so that Koreans couldn't see Gyeongbokgung Palace, the country's most recognizable landmark. In 1945, the Korean independence movement was successful, and the Republic of Korea was founded. The Government-General building served as a museum after liberation. Until 1995, the Korean government finally demolished the building and preserved part of it at the Independence Hall while rebuilding Heungnyemun Gate at its original place. Although it is not the same gate as existed during the Joseon Dynasty, it nonetheless became a symbol of Koreans' renewed sense of national pride.

In front of Heungnyemun Gate, there is a staircase leading to the palace building. Dapdo, a slanted stone plate, is on the stairs of the “Eodo” (the royal path). A phoenix is engraved on the Dapdo. It is said that the phoenix will appear when the king rules well and the time of peace comes. In other words, the Dapdo with a phoenix engraved on the royal path suggests a blessing of achieving peace and prosperity.

Let’s see the changing of the guard at the Palace in front of the Heungnyemun Gate before exploring the rest of the palace. The guards take turns standing at the gate for two hours at a time. In the past, nightly identity checks required exchanging a password that was randomly generated by the king.