Hwangudan Altar

Hwangudan Altar and Gate were built in October 1897. The altar was a religious facility were the emperor of the Great Han Empire made offerings to the Lord of heaven when he established the empire in 1897. Most of the area was destroyed by the Japanese in 1913 to make way for a hotel but the altar, small gates and stone drums were untouched. In 2007 the main gate to this area was discovered and restored to its current location in front of Seoul City Hall Plaza and facing Deoksugung Palace.

Hwangudan Altar is definitely not a common tourist spot. It is hidden away in the centre of Seoul inside a small garden located at the Westin Chosun Hotel.

Often it is very quite here with no tourists despite being right in the main tourist area of City Hall Seoul.

There is no entrance fee and it is open all year round 24 hours a day. So, next time if you are at City Hall Plaza take a few minutes out of your schedule and visit Hwangudan Altar and Gate.

How to get Hwangudan Altar:
Take line 1 or 2 to City Hall station and leave exit 5 or 6 and follow the map below.

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