This is the north gate of Gyeongbokgung, Sinmumun. According to yin-yang ideology, the north symbolizes winter and death and is strongly yin. The north gate was always kept locked to keep the yin of the north gate from disturbing the inside of the palace. There were rare occasions on which this gate was opened. For example, it was opened during shaman services that were held to pray for rain during a drought and when the king wanted to go to the archery field at what is today known as the Blue House. However, apart from those times, the gate remained closed. The building that you can see past the north gate is the presidential palace, known as Blue House. By Blue House decree, the gate stayed locked for security purposes until it was opened in 2006 for public viewing.