Jinseonmun Gate is the main gate to Injeongjeon Hall, the main hall of Changdeokkung Palace. In front of the gate, there is the Geumcheongyo Bridge. The term “Jinseon” in its name means “to speak the right words to the king” and “to nominate an excellent person”.

According to the “Annals of the Joseon Dynasty”, the Jinseonmun Gate first appeared in 1409, the 9th year of King Taejong’s reign. It is believed that it was built around the time Changdeokgung Palace was built. It was demolished in 1908 during the renovation of Injeongjeon Hall and restored in 1996. King Taejong and King Yeongjo had installed the Sinmungo in the Jinseonmun Gate to listen to the unfortunate stories of the people.

Sinmungo was a drum, also known as “Deungmungo”, during King Yeongjo’s reign in the mid-1700s. People who suffered from unfair and bitter acts went to pound the drum. Once the Sinmungo was pounded, the case would be either handled by the king or addressed by the officials of the relevant department. However, as there were people pounding the Sinmungo for issues too trivial, the officials sometimes had to stop people from pounding it. Nevertheless, as every judgment was made after a fair and detailed investigation, the Sinmungo brought hope to the people.