Naju's Four Fortress Gates: Reading a City's History from Every Direction

In Naju's old town, four gates face four directions: Dongjeommun (east), Seoseongmun or Yeonggeummun (west), Namgomun (south) and Bukmangmun (north). Their setting in today's streets helps visitors imagine why Naju was once an important administrative center in the southwestern part of Korea.

Four gates, one old walled town

Naju's town fortress originated in the Goryeo period and was expanded or repaired through the Joseon era. The Korea Tourism Organization explains that most of the gates and walls disappeared during the Japanese colonial period. The structures seen today should not be confused with original buildings continuously preserved in place: the South Gate was restored in 1993, East Gate in 2006, West Gate in 2011 and North Gate in 2018.

West Gate: a difficult chapter of 1894

Seoseongmun is also called Yeonggeummun. An official tourism description based on Naju's local heritage interpretation connects this gate to a confrontation between Donghak peasant forces and the defenders of Naju in 1894. Looking at a restored gate can be an invitation to remember both the architecture and the people involved in a troubled historical period. Follow current on-site signs for permitted access.

South Gate: history amid city traffic

Namgomun stands prominently in the urban road layout. The juxtaposition of a reconstructed traditional gate and modern traffic makes its setting memorable. The official tourism account also preserves stories about the gate's name and the scholar Jeong Do-jeon. These should be understood as historical traditions rather than automatically verified events. Photograph it only from safe pedestrian areas.

Beyond the gates

The story of Naju's old town also runs through Geumseonggwan, Naju Hyanggyo Confucian School and Moksa Naea, the former magistrate's residence. The KTO describes these sites as part of the same historic core. A 2026 tourism article noted restoration work affecting access to Geumseonggwan, so do not assume its interior is currently open.

Before you go

Search Korean map apps with the original names '나주읍성', '서성문', '남고문', '동점문' and '북망문'. Confirm gate access, traffic-safe approaches, parking, public transit, interpretation sessions and construction status through current official notices. No walking time for the entire route is asserted without a verified route calculation.