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Gyeongbokgung Palace – Korea’s Magnificent Main Palace

KoreaTravelPost Editor by KoreaTravelPost Editor
August 17, 2020
in Attractions, Seoul

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If Germany is known for Neuschwanstein Castle and France for Versailles, South Korea is known for five grand palaces of Seoul. Gyeongbokgung Palace is the largest of them all and most central. 

The Gyeongbokgung Palace is the “Northern” palace as it is the furthest north in comparison to the neighboring palaces of Changdeokgung and Gyeonghuigung Palace. It’s a representation of Korea’s national pride and long labor of love. 

History of Gyeongbokgung Palace

Lee Seong-gye or the Taejo of Joseon commenced the development of the “Palace of Happiness” when he decided to settle the capital of South Korea in Seoul. Built-in 1395, Gyeongbokgung Palace also happens to be the biggest of the Five Grand Seoul Palaces. The Gyeongbokgung Palace represented the official change of capital from Gaeseong to Seoul. 

Furthermore, the emperor lived there, and it also served as the government center. King Taejong decided to extend the palace during his leadership. His son, King Sejong the Great, did the same and even developed the Korean alphabet in the palace.

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#경복궁 #근정전 #내부 보고싶으셨죠? 오늘 오랜만에 찍은 사진을 여러분과 공유하고자 합니다.^^ #어좌 #용상 #답도 #곡병 #일월오봉병 #칠조룡 #전돌 #박석 #삼도 #어도 #근정문 #흥례문 #광화문

A post shared by 경복궁 (@gbg_palace) on Jun 20, 2020 at 2:53am PDT

The palace lies in a favorable area with Bugaksan in the background and Namsan in front. Even the name of the palace means “Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven.” Unfortunately, the Japanese destroyed the palace twice. The first occasion was during the Japanese invasion in 1952 and the second during the late 1800s while under occupation. The palace was targeted because of its sovereign status symbol. However, all of the palace buildings were later restored under the leadership of Prince Regent Heungseon Daewongun during the reign of King Gojong (1852-1919).

Korea’s government has been restoring the buildings that were destroyed by the Japanese invaders since the 1990s. The rebuilding of the palace started in 1990 and just ended in 2010. The Japanese Government-General headquarters were not taken down until min 1990s. 

Magnificent Gyeongbokgung Palace

What makes the Gyeongbokgung palace interesting is that it offers a glimpse into the royal past of Korea. There are parts of Korean imperial culture that still exist like certain traditions, food, and even dress. But, the actual part of royalty ended in 1910 with Sunjong of Korea. 

It is a part of Seoul that existed years before modernization, wi-fi, K-pop, and even “Gangnam Style.” As soon as you enter the premises, it’s like you’ve walked into a different world altogether. You can stroll around various courtyards and see different structures.

Hyangwonjeong Pavilion

There’s magnificent Hyangwonjeong Pavilion, a hexagonal structure built on the Hyangwonji Pond. You can spend an afternoon roaming and exploring different nooks and areas of the Gyeongbokgung Palace. Its a two-tier pavilion in the back garden of the Palace. The water in the pond comes from an underground water source and a spring coming down from the mountain at the back of the Palace. This water eventually flows into the Hyangwonji Pond where Gyeonghoeru Pavilion stands. 

Hyangwonjeong Pavilion

Gyeonghoeru Pavilion

The pavilion sits on a pond to the west of the living quarters of the Palace and was built as a venue for feasts for foreign envoys and for the king and his court officials.

Gyeonghoeru Pavilion
Gyeonghoeru Pavilion

Palace Gates

As it is the main palace, you can see that the gates of Gyeongbokgung Palace are replicas of fortress gates. They have high stone foundations and arched entrances in the center unlike the gates in other Palaces that stand on low steps.

  • Gwanghwamun Gate
    the main gate of the Palace
  • Geonchunmun Gate
    the east gate of the Palace
  • Yeongchumun Gate 
    the west gate of the Palace
  • Sinmumun Gate
    the north gate of the Palace

How to Reach Gyeongbokgung Palace

Depending on where you are, you can choose different public transportation options. 

  • Take Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Palace Station, use Exit 5 
  • Take Line 5 to Gwanghwamun Station, Exit 2

After the exits, you just walk, and you’ll definitely see the Gwanghwamun gate. It’s very hard to miss.

More Information on Gyeongbokgung Palace

  • Korean Name: 경복궁
  • Opening Hours: Typically open until 5 or 6 pm and the entrance closes an hour beforehand
  • Entrance Fee: 3,000 KRW (~$3) and it’s free on Korean holidays
  • Official Website | Official Instagram

Have you been to Gyeongbokgung Palace? Are you looking forward to visiting it on your next visit? Let us know in the comments!

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KoreaTravelPost Editor

KoreaTravelPost Editor

Hello there! I'm the Features Editor for KoreaTravelPost.

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