The original gate was destroyed during Japanese invasion of 1582 and then rebuilt in1867 by Heungseon Daewongun. During the colonial period, Gwanghwamun had to be moved to the leftside of the eastern gate of Gyeongbokgung, because the Japanese built their government building in front of the palace. Lastly, the gate was destroyed again in Korean War, which was happened  in 1950-1953.