This small monument in the middle of the road is actually a former watchtower that was once part of the royal palace. The walls connecting it to the palace were demolished during the Japanese occupation, which is why it now stands apart, right in the middle of a busy intersection. But in its time, the palace grounds stretched all the way to this point. Today, the tower is a rare surviving remnant of Seoul’s past, a tangible link to the city’s rich history. At night, it’s beautifully illuminated, with lights highlighting the underside of its roof, painted in the vibrant, traditional colors seen on Korean temples.