 In 1896, the gate was demolished along with Mohwagwan one year after the First Sino-Japanese War ended, which was a war between China and Japan primarily for the control over Korea.The Korean independence activist Seo Jae-pil (known as Philip Jaisohn) built the Independence Gate on the site with the desire towards inspiring the spirit of independence in Korea.The Yeongeunmun Gate was located just outside the Donuimun (돈의문, 敦義門, West Gate) of the walled capital city of Hanseong (present-day Seoul).