Royal experience in Seoul's palaces
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Taiwanese tourists wearing hanbok, or traditional Korean clothes, take selfies at Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, Wednesday. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
By Kim Se-jeong
Seoul is a modern city with skyscrapers, a well-organized traffic system and other facilities that make use of the country’s state-of-the-art communications technologies.
However, it is also a city where traditional-style houses and royal palaces during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) are situated just meters away from modern buildings.
When entering the calm, green-surrounded palaces, visitors can have a unique experience, as if they are time traveling from the 21st century to the 15th-16th centuries.
At night the palaces become more exotic and unreal with light shows, and visitors may feel like they are on a film set.
Here are brief explanations of five major palaces in Seoul and what to do there.
Gyeongbok Palace
Gyeongbok Palace was Joseon’s first royal palace built in 1395, three years after the founding of the kingdom.
The palace on 450,000 square meters of land with 177 buildings used to be much bigger, and the restoration is ongoing. Some of the buildings include Geunjeong Hall, the main office where kings undertook their state affairs, and Gyeonghoeru Pavilion where kings hosted receptions for foreign dignitaries and cabinet members.
Gyeongbok Palace presents the royal guard change ceremony twice a day ― 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. ― throughout the year. Also, professional traditional musicians and dancers perform in a show every last Saturday of the month until November.
The palace opens until 10 p.m. during spring and autumn, and the evening tour is popular even for the locals. The ongoing tour will end on June 2, and will start again in September. Reservations are required. Tickets cost 3,000 won. Those who wear hanbok, Korean traditional outfit, can have a tour without making a reservation. There are shops around the palace where people can rent hanbok.
A night view of Changdeok Palace in Seoul. The palace offers “Moonlight Tour” in spring and autumn that is gaining popularity among tourists and residents. / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
Changgyeong Palace
Changgyeong Palace was built in 1483 by King Seongjong (1457-1495). Myeongjeong Hall is where the king conducted state affairs with officials and foreign envoys. Most of the structures were destroyed during the war with Japan in 1592-1598 and rebuilt later.
The palace’s evening tour is popular and runs until the end of October. The ticket costs 1,000 won and reservation is required.
In October and November, a temporary library opens at the palace property, along with a talk show on books and a meeting with authors. In summer between July and August, an education program runs for teenagers about history and culture of royal palaces.
Changdeok Palace
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Changdeok Palace built in 1405 was the favorite living quarters for many Joseon kings. The architecture is known for its harmonious design with the local topography.
Changdeok Palace has a garden exclusively used by royal family and palace women, called “Secret Garden” or “Huwon” in Korean.
The palace also offers a “Moonlight Tour” in spring and autumn. But the number of available days is very limited, and reservations are a must.
Deoksu Palace
Deoksu Palace served as a temporary home for Josen’s last king, Gojong, (1852-1919) until the Japanese colonization in the early 20th century. Built in the middle of the 15th century, it was originally called Gyeongun but renamed to Deoksu by Gojong.
Deoksu Palace is one of the most accessible and the busiest palaces with events. Its royal guard change ceremony is a popular tourist attraction, taking place three times a day ― 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
A concert on Thursday evening is another hot cultural event in town among music lovers. It runs until September. Other major cultural activities take place in spring and autumn. Educational programs for children also run between January and August.
Gyeonghui Palace
Gyeonghui Palace was built during the reign of King Gwanghaegun (1575-1641) in the western part of old Seoul. It was used as an emergency residence for kings. The palace is the most severely demolished one out of five palaces, twice by fire and by Japan during its colonial rule of the peninsula, with only a couple of buildings and gates left. The palace property serves as the venue for the Seoul Museum of History currently.
For more information, visit Seoul’s official tourism website, visitseoul.net.