The state of Joseon since its formation in 1392 has been the state of sadae-zhui. "Serve great", "great deeds" - that's what "sade" (事大) means. "Zhu-y" - (it is read, however, "zhui") - the same as "ism" in the West.

The Gate of Independence (or the "Arch of Independence") is a monumental architectural structure, embodying the END of the "sade-zhuyi" era. On the site of the Gates of Independence used to be the so-called. "Gate of Encounter with Kindness/Grace". It was through them that the carriers of the "great" - the Chinese ambassadors - should have arrived in Seoul.

Now do you understand how great was the symbolism of the demolition of the Gate of Mercy and the establishment of the Gate of Independence in its place? Yes, and the Chinese were already fake, from 1636-1637, when the new barbarian Qing dynasty forced Joseon to submit with a serious loss of face (evidence of which, by the way, you can find at the tallest building in Korea - Lotte World Tower).

By the way, researchers call Afanasy Seredina-Sabatina from the Russian Empire one of the likely architects of the Gate/Arch of Independence.

Gate of Independence - Seodaemun Former Prison - Mount Ansan (trecking)