Donhwamun, Changdeokgung's main gate, rebuilt in 1609 after the Imjin War

Donhwamun is the main gate of Changdeokgung, a royal palace in Seoul built in the early Joseon dynasty. The gate was first constructed in 1412, during the reign of King Taejong, when the palace itself was being established as a secondary royal residence.

During the Japanese invasions of Korea, known as the Imjin War (1592–1598), Seoul's palaces were burned and heavily damaged. Changdeokgung, including its main gate, was destroyed. After the war, the court faced the task of restoring a royal residence, and Changdeokgung was rebuilt before the larger Gyeongbokgung palace, which stayed in ruins for centuries.

Donhwamun was reconstructed in 1609, during the reign of King Gwanghaegun. The rebuilt gate is generally regarded as the oldest surviving palace gate in Seoul. Changdeokgung went on to serve as the main royal seat for a long period, and it was later inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 1609 rebuilding is the reason today's repair work concerns a structure of more than four centuries old.