Since most foreigners were repelled from Korea up until the Japanese occupation, I can assume that as of now I'm one of only a handful of westerners to have ever passed through the gate.

I hate to burst your bubble, but I don't think this is the case. In the mid-1990s, there were some stories in the local press that said, in essence, the number of foreigners residing in Seoul 100 years earlier was more than the number of foreigners at that time in the mid-1990s (1995 or 1997).

100 years ago there were a ton more Japanese living here, and perhaps other Asians as well. But as far as westerners are concerned, I don't think you've burst my bubble. :D They were even fewer and further between, especially if you consider today's US military presense.

Hey, nice shots. I particularly like the one at dusk with the "glowing" gate - about perfect timing, as far as I can tell. And the businessmen in suits in the foreground just make it even "more Korea" somehow.

Hallo max..............
You had slipped after little ............ is that a good musical life in Seoul.. intends on jazz and blues
Exists the jazzclub, which music plays most
/ Flamingo

Ah, you're the Max Watson who helped me make up my mind on what type of digital camera to buy. Just want to thank you for your inputs. Of course, once my wife sees the pricetag, she may feel differently than I. Heh.

I think Kushibo is likely correct about the number of westerners in Seoul prior to the Japanese takeover. Keep in mind that the period 1883-1907 is quite a long time - 24 years. Considering the number of countries Korea had established diplomatic relations with in that time, it's likely several hundred foreigners would have passed through that gate before it closed. Robert Neff's series of articles for the Korea Times look at the (primarily western) foreign community in Korea, and especially Seoul, at that time.

Also, I'm intrigued by that historical photo on the right with all the concrete, showing the gate still open and all those multi-storey brick buildings. Especially if you look at the top two photos on this site, which were taken in 1904 (and this photo, which was taken ca. 1900 from Namdaemun's balcony).

Were the walls torn down, the small houses razed, the entire area paved, and several multi-storey buildings built in the space of just 3 years? Or is that photo from a later date, when the passageway through Namdaemun was still open?

Hey Max,

I like the shots, and the little commentary you put in. A
suggestion though, make your articles longer. Not cause they are too short, but because I like them :) Anyway keep up the great work.

-Sky

I think that a lot of people seem to have forgotten that the street cars used to pass through the gate - considering that at times these were operated by Western engineers from California and the Wild West (Hence the name the California Men) - I would suggest that there were many Westerners that passed through these gates either on foot or on the street cars.
Robert Neff