Gyeongbokgung

Lore & Background

Gyeongbokgung, a former royal palace in Seoul, South Korea, was established in 1395 as the first royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. Its name, meaning derived from a poem in the Classic of Poetry, was chosen by the official Chŏng Tojŏn. The palace flourished under the reign of Sejong the Great (1418–1450), during which it hosted scientific devices such as the water clock Borugak Jagyeongnu, a facility for producing movable type, and an astronomical observatory. It was also the site of the Hall of Worthies and the development of the native Korean script Hangul. The palace was completely burned down in 1592 during the Imjin War, and plans for its reconstruction were indefinitely postponed due to funding shortages. It remained largely unused for about 270 years until restoration efforts began in the late 19th century under King Gojong. After Japan colonized Korea in 1910, the palace was systematically demolished and altered; almost all of its roughly 500 structures were sold off and shipped away, leaving only 40 pre-colonial buildings by 1945. Modern colonial buildings, including the Government-General of Chōsen Building, were erected in their place. Significant restoration efforts began in the 1980s, with two major plans—the First Gyeongbokgung Restoration Plan (1990–2010) and the Second Gyeongbokgung Restoration Plan (2008–2045)—resulting in the recreation of dozens of buildings, with more scheduled. Today, the palace hosts a changing of the guard ceremony twice daily, contains the National Folk Museum of Korea and the National Palace Museum of Korea, and is accessible via Gyeongbokgung Station. It is open at night for part of the year, and entrance is free for visitors wearing hanbok.

Reader's Guide

Gyeongbokgung served as the official royal palace of the Joseon dynasty from its founding in 1395, though it was not always the primary residence of the monarchs. After a period of abandonment following political turmoil in the late 1390s, King Sejong the Great made it his main palace in the 1420s, greatly expanding and renovating it. During his reign, the palace became a center of scientific and cultural achievement, hosting a water clock, a movable type facility, an astronomical observatory, and the Hall of Worthies, where the native Korean script Hangul was developed. The palace was completely burned down in 1592 during the Imjin War; it is uncertain whether Korean commoners or Japanese soldiers set the fire. Despite plans for reconstruction, financial constraints after the war led to its neglect for roughly 270 years, with state resources instead directed toward rebuilding another palace. It was finally restored in the late 19th century under King Gojong. Following Japan’s 1910 colonization, the palace was systematically demolished as a symbol of Korean monarchy; nearly all of its roughly 500 structures were sold and removed, leaving only about 40 pre-colonial buildings by 1945. Colonial-era buildings, including the Government-General building, were erected on the site. Major restoration efforts began in the 1980s, with two long-term plans resulting in the recreation of dozens of buildings, and more scheduled for the future. Today, the palace hosts a twice-daily changing of the guard ceremony, contains the National Folk Museum and National Palace Museum, and is a major tourist attraction, with free entry for visitors wearing hanbok.

Did You Know?

• Gyeongbokgung means 'great blessings palace', named after a poem from the Classic of Poetry.
• Entrance to the palace is free for visitors wearing hanbok (traditional Korean clothing).