Gyeongbokgung Palace was built in 1395 in Northern Seoul, South Korea. This palace is also known as Gyeongbok Palace as this was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. It served as the home of kings of the Joseon dynasty, the King’s households, and also the government of Joseon.ย
Gyeongbokgung was abandoned for two centuries when a fire destroyed this palace. This happened during the Imjin War that took place from 1592 to 1598 However, this was all restored under the commands ofย Prince Regent Heungseon.ย
There were at least 7700 rooms and 40 buildings that were built right after the fire, after 200 years. All the remains of architectural principles of ancient Korea were then restored. 40 hectares of the total space of Gyeongbokgung Palace were restored as well. Then again Imperial Japan destroyed the remains of it in the early 20th century. Out of all 5 palaces, this still is under construction and restoration even until today.
What can you do at Gyeongbokgung Palace?
At least 39% of residents of Seoul believe it, Gyeongbokgung Palace, to be one of the most fascinating places not just for the tourists but citizens, too. Nearly everyone who visits Gyeongbokgung Palace believes that it’s the most scenic location in Seoul, following Mount Namsan and Han River in the top spots.
People believe that changing of the guards around this palace is one of the most amazing scenes to watch, as well. The ceremony of changing guards is done every hour from 10:00 to 15:00 at the gates, it’s one of the most royal scenes there. There are so many rental shops nearby where you can buy a lot of Korean heritage things and eat its local food.
There’s also a program called โSuragan Tasting Sympathyโ in Gyeongbokgung Palace. Here, you can experience royal food and watch traditional performances by many people including some famous artists. There’s also a special ‘nighttime viewing’ session from 7PM to 10PM.
4,500 tickets are offered each season. The only thing you need is your ID at the spot. But if you’re booking online, you’re good to go. However, on-site tickets are available only for foreigners and senior citizens aged 65 and over. So you’ve got a good chance considering you’ll be a foreigner there, anyway.
How to get to Gyeongbokgung Palace
The Gyeongbokgung entry is located 22 Sajik-no, Jongno-gu. You can take subway from there and the nearest station is Gyeongbokgung Station (Station #327 on Line 3).
Ticket Price for the Palace
Ticket prices vary from age to age:
- If you’re 19-64, it’s 3000 WON.
- For kids ranging from 7-18, it’s 1500 WON.
- It’s totally free for children under the age of 6 and older people over the age of 65.
- Free for last Wednesday of every month.
- It’s also free if you wear a Hanbok; a traditional Korean dress.
We hope you like our interesting and short information about the palace. Let us know what other places in Seoul you’d like to visit?
Read more: Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung palace
