Korean Pronunciation

How to Pronounce Gwanghwamun

Gwanghwamun is written 광화문 in Korean and pronounced GWANG-hwa-mun.

광화문

Gwanghwamun

GWANG-hwa-mun

landmark

Syllable Breakdown

Korean is a syllabic language — each block is one syllable. Break Gwanghwamun into parts:

gwang

hwa

mun

gwang + hwa + mun = Gwanghwamun

Pronunciation Guide

광 (gwang) — start with 'gw' (like 'Gwen' without the 'en'), then add 'ang'. The 'gw' blend is unique to Korean. 화 (hwa) = 'hwa', like 'what' without the 't'. 문 (mun) = 'moon' but shorter. Full: GWANG-hwa-moon.

Common Mistake

Skipping the 'w' glide in 광 and saying 'gang-hwa-mun'. The 'gw' blend is essential.

What is Gwanghwamun?

Gwanghwamun (광화문) is the main and largest gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul. It is one of the most iconic landmarks in South Korea and faces the large Gwanghwamun Plaza.

Full Vocabulary Page

Want to learn how to use Gwanghwamun in a sentence? See example sentences, formal and casual variants, and cultural context.

How to say “Gwanghwamun Gate” in Korean →

Master Korean Pronunciation

Practice Gwanghwamun and 5,000+ other Korean words with native audio and AI conversation.