Palace sights in Seoul
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
A
Gyeongbokgung
Originally built by King Taejo, the founder of the Joseon dynasty, the grandest of Seoul’s palaces served as the principal palace until 1592, when it was burnt down during the Japanese invasions. It lay in ruins for nearly 300 years until Heungseon Daewongun, regent and father of King Gojong, started to rebuild it in 1865. King Gojong moved in during 1868, but the expensive rebuilding project virtually bankrupted the government.
Two of the grandest architectural sights in Seoul are here. The first is the ornate two-storey Geunjeongjeon, the main palace building, where kings were crowned, met foreign envoys and conducted affairs of state. With its double-tiered stone pla…
reviewed
-
B
Changdeokgung
Generally, you can only look around this World Heritage palace on a 90-minute guided tour. However, on Thursdays between April and November, you can visit unescorted (adult/child W15,000/7500; 9.15am-6.30pm Apr-Nov, last entry 4.30pm). It’s much better going around at your own speed, plus you can see more of the palace and grounds than on the tour. An audio guide can be borrowed free of charge.
Changdeokgung was originally built in 1405 as a secondary palace, but when Gyeongbokgung (Seoul’s principal palace) was destroyed during the Japanese invasion in the 1590s, Changdeokgung became the primary palace until 1896. Like all Joseon palaces, it has a mountain behind it an…
reviewed
-
C
Unhyeongung
The modest and plain natural-wood design of this minor palace reflects the austere tastes of Heungseon Daewongun (1820–98), King Gojong’s stern and conservative father, whose policies included massacring Korean Catholics, excluding foreigners from Korea, closing Confucian schools and rebuilding Gyeongbokgung. Gojong was born and raised here until 1863 when he ascended the throne aged 12 with his father acting as regent. Rooms are furnished and mannequins display the dress styles of the time, giving some idea of how people here used to live. As was the custom, women were hidden away in their own separate quarters. An hour-long re-enactment of the marriage of King Gojong to…
reviewed
-
D
Gyeonghuigung
This detached palace was completed in 1623 and used to consist of a warren of courtyards, buildings, walls and gates spread over a large area. But it was destroyed during the Japanese annexation and a Japanese school was established here. Only the main audience hall, Sungjeongjeon, and the smaller official hall behind it along with a few paved courtyards, walls and corridors, have been restored. The entrance gate, Heunghwamun, has toured around Seoul, including a stint outside the Hotel Shilla, but was moved to its present site in 1988. Recently, outdoor performances of Daejanggeum, a musical based on the popular TV series about a royal cook, have been held in the palace …
reviewed
