Dongsipjagak is a lonely building. When you get out of Gwanghwamun and head to the left, there is a corner and the wall extends along the road to Samcheongdong. Around this corner, there is a building like a lonely island at the center of the road. This is Dongsipjagak. This building looks like a high watchtower, but strangely, it has no door. On the roof, there are japsang and dancheong, which are only allowed on palace roofing, suggesting that this is a palace building. But how come this building alone has been removed from the palace? Dongsipjagak was originally connected with the wall of Gyeongbokgung. It is a watchtower on which the guards climbed to stand on guard. In the past, there were stairs for the guards to climb up and down from the watchtower. Because it has a roof for shutting out the rain and a protective wall called ‘yeojang’ to protect the guards from arrows and bullets, this was an excellent combat facility. However, the east wall of Gyeongbokgung was damaged during the Japanese colonial era. Because the front wall was also moved back to broaden the front road, this building was removed from the body of Gyeongbokgung. Since then, it has been kept as a rather lonely place. Furthermore, the wall of Dongsipjagak has traces of bullet holes, showing tougher days of years gone past. Seosipjagak, once at the opposite side, has disappeared, and may we say it was fortunate? When you happen to pass by Dongsipjagak, please console it for its loneliness.