Namdaemun, or East Gate, in downtown Seoul will be opened to the public from Friday for the first time in almost 100 years.

The Junggu Ward Office on Tuesday said it will open the gate's central pathway from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

The office will hold a ceremony Friday morning to mark the opening of Namdaemun, which is designated National Treasure No. 1.

The gate's pathway was blocked in 1907 after the castle wall around Namdaemun was removed and roads were built for cars.