For over 600 years, Gwanghwamun Gate has towered over Seoul from its early days as a provincial town to what is now one of the world's greatest cities. During its history, it has been a symbol of power, despair, destruction, independence and now optimism. Located in one of Korea's most sacred places, Gwanghwamun at times lay in rubble, and a few decades after reconstruction it was moved to the side during the early 20th century to make way for a Japanese colonial building.

With its recent restoration, Gwanghwamun, like the country it gloriously anchors, is now free of past indignities and is a proud symbol of the incredible transformation that has made Korea a late 20th miracle and a 21st century trendsetter.

Miracle, however, really is not the right word to describe Korea's spectacular change and its current role as a global pacesetter. Hard work, sweat, tears and a little bit of fun on the side has taken Korea and Koreans to where they are today. Whether displayed in architecture, design or technology, Korea, like this incredible gate, shines with much deserved pride.

Gwanghwamun at night.

Gwanghwamun at night.

About The Author

Leon Kaye

Leon Kaye is the founder and editor of GreenGoPost.com and its advisory division, GGP Media. Contact him to discuss how he can work with your organization or event. His focus is making the business case for sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). He writes for San Francisco-based Triple Pundit, Inhabitat and now The Guardian, for which he writes about corporate responsibility, water, and green building. He has also written for AIA's Architect Magazine. Leon works out of Fresno and Silicon Valley, California, and when he has free time, he enjoys hiking, gardening, cooking, weightlifting, and planning his next trip to one of the 60 countries he has visited. He has an MBA from USC's Marshall School of Business and is also a proud graduate of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) and Cal State-Fresno.