Uzbekistan’s ‘Seoul Mun’ Draws Criticism for Torii-Like Gate and Chinese Lanterns

A large gateway at Tashkent’s Seoul Mun has triggered criticism after being compared to a Japanese torii, with Chinese-style red lanterns hanging from it.

Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women’s University, said on the 8th that he investigated the structure after receiving a tip from an internet user. “It uses the shape of a Japanese torii and even has Chinese-style lanterns, creating a situation that is completely out of place with ‘Seoul Mun,’” he said.

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A netizen tipped me off, so I looked into it.

Seoul Mun was created as a commercial and cultural complex symbolizing exchange and friendship between South Korea and Uzbekistan. It draws inspiration from Korean streets and a waterside promenade, and local media have described it as reminiscent of Seoul’s Cheonggyecheon stream.

The Tashkent site has become a destination for local residents and foreign tourists. Along the waterfront, it features Korean restaurants, K-beauty stores and K-dessert cafes, as well as commercial facilities and walking areas. It is also known locally as “Seoul Mun” or “Seoul Gates,” and hosts music and fountain shows.

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It uses the shape of a Japanese torii and even has Chinese-style lanterns, creating a situation that is completely out of place with ‘Seoul Mun.’