Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul

Gyeongbokgung Palace was completed in 1395 and is considered to be the most beautiful and grandest of the Five Grand Palaces constructed by the Joseon dynasty, serving as the home of the kings of the Joseon dynasty as well as the government of Joseon.  The palace was destroyed by fire in the 1590s and then abandoned for two centuries.  In the 19th century, all 7,700 rooms in 500 buildings were restored, to be destroyed again by the Japanese in the early 20th century.  Since the 1990s, the palace complex is gradually being restored to its original form.

Approaching the palace side entrance

Looking at the main entrance from inside

Looking into the palace

Many Koreans take pictures inside in traditional clothing (free entry if dressed traditionally) and are a great sight around the palace.

Traditional outfits

Venturing further into the palace, we start to reach throne rooms which are spectacular in their construction and decoration.

Further into the palace

Formal chambers

Several courtyards in, we reach Sajeongjeon Hall, more informal rooms where the king worked on state matters, including morning council meetings, administrative reports, and policymaking meetings with government officials.

Sajeongjeon Hall

Continuing to the next courtyards, we find more fabulous buildings and rooms.

More buildings

Great rooms

In the rear of the palace, Gyeonghoeru, an open-air, two-story pavilion was used for royal banquets and entertaining foreign envoys.

Gyeonghoeru

View behind Gyeonghoeru

North of the palace were the living quarters of the queen, followed by the living quarters of the concubines, separated by a beautiful lake and gardens which served as a rear garden of the concubines' quarters.

Living quarters

Lake and gardens

This has been a delightful stroll through history, with impressive beauty, landscaping, and architecture in this 40 hectare (100 acre) complex.