Gyeongbokgung Palace

The main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty, set against the mountains north of Seoul.

The palace has been destroyed and rebuilt more than once, so its story is also the story of Korea. Today it is one of the most visited places in the country. Inside are grand halls, peaceful ponds, and two museums: the National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum of Korea.

History

King Sejong, who created the Korean alphabet Hangul, ruled from Gyeongbokgung. In 1592, during the Japanese invasion known as the Imjin War, the palace burned down and lay in ruins for about 270 years. In 1865 the regent Heungseon Daewongun began a huge rebuilding project; the main halls were finished in 1867 and the royal family moved back in 1868. During the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945) most of the buildings were torn down, and a large colonial government building was put up in front of the throne hall. That building was demolished in 1995-1996, and restoration work has continued since 1990, with plans running to 2045.

What's inside

Visitors enter through Gwanghwamun, the main gate. At the heart of the palace is Geunjeongjeon, the throne hall where kings were crowned and met foreign envoys; it is National Treasure No. 223. Gyeonghoeru is a large pavilion that seems to float on an artificial pond. Kings held banquets there for foreign guests, and the present building dates from 1867. Further north, the small hexagonal pavilion Hyangwonjeong stands on a small island in the middle of a pond.

Visiting today

One favourite sight is the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony, a reenactment of how guards swapped duty at the palace gates in Joseon times, with drums, flags and colourful uniforms. It is usually held twice a day, but it can be cancelled in bad weather, so it is worth checking the schedule. The palace grounds are wide: the outer wall runs about 2.4 km around them and has four gates, one facing each direction.

On the globe

The model shows the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty set against the mountains north of Seoul. Look for its tiled palace roofs with the peaks behind them.