Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul

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Make sure to be around for the change of guards, this is usually performd several times a day from March to November. It includes a lof flags, swords and and drums. The rest you should just check out yourself, but it's very worthwhile seeing.

Gyeongbokgung Palace is the oldest of five royal palaces at Seoul, built in 1395. The palace, named 'Gyeongbok' meant 'shining happiness' . It was burnt down during the Japanese invasion of 1592, and was left in ruins until being rebuilt in 1865. Many of the buildings at the palace were demolished during the Japanese colonial period. However, in the 1990s, the government launched restoration of the palace, and it has now been restored to its original state. On the site stand Geunjeongjeon, Gyeonghoeru, Hyangwonjeong, and Amisan Chimney, all in their original states.

The National Folk Museum located inside the palace is a good place for those who want to learn the lifestyle and culture of Korean people. The National Museum of Korea situated to the left of the main gate of the palace, Gwanghwamun, exhibits a fine collection of historic relics and works of art used in the royal court during the Joseon period.

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Gyeongbok Palace was the Main Palace of the Chosun dynasty until it got destroyed in 1592 during the Japanese Invasion. Founded in 1394 by King Taejo (who destroyed the Goryeo Dynasty in Kaesong), this was the base of the Joseon Dynasty. (the last Dynasty of Korea). In 1867, some of the building were reconstructed but was again destroyed by the japanese during the occupation except for 10 buildings. Today the palace is open to the public, and houses the National Folk Museum of Korea. The National Museum of Korea was there too, until it was relocated to Yongsan-gu in 2005.

Admission :
3,000 won adults, 1,500 won children
Hours of Operation :
09:00~17:00, 18:00
Closed Tuesdays

Most of the grounds consist of the Palacebuilding itself. There's a citygate you go through first, to get on the main square where also the change of guards is performed, then you have to enter 2 gates untll you are on the palace square, behing the palace are also some buildings on which signs explain whatits functions are, and there is a display on they look from the inside.

On the grounds of Gyeongbokgung there is the National Folk Museum, it's located down the large pagoda (by far the largest sized pagoda I have seen in Korea).

Inside there are nice displays (bilingual) on the history of Korea ad how people used to live in former days, the exhibits are very nicely made with maquaettes and real sized buildings and objects.

Kyongbokkung, the Palace of Shining Happiness, located in Sejong-ro, Chongno-gu, Seoul, is also called the Northern Palace as it is located in the northern side of the capital. It is designated Historic Site No. 117.
The palace mainly consists of administration and living areas. Although many buildings within the palace were destroyed during the Japanese colonial period, key buildings including Kwanghwa-mun (main gate), Kunjong-mun (south gate), Kunjong-jon (Hall of Diligent Administration), Sajong-jon, Ch'onch'u-jon, Sujong-jon, Chakyong-jon, Kyonghoe-ru (the banquet hall), Chaesu-gak, Sukhyang-dang, Hamhwa-dang, Hyangwon-jong, Chipok-jae, and Sonwon-jon still remain today. Within the palace are a number of national treasures, including the Monument of Inspection, erected in 555 on Mt. Pukhan in Seoul to commemorate a tour of the area by King Chinhung of Shilla (r. 540-576), the Ten-Story Marble Pagoda of Kyongchon-sa, the Seven-Story Stone Pagoda of Namgyewon, and Punggi-dae (wind streamer), an 18th century weather device.
The National Museum of Korea is in Kyongbokkyng. So you can take a look at the palace and go to the museum at the same time! How convenient!!!

One of Seoul's palaces, much of what exists today is a 20th century reconstruction of the original structures, which were destroyed on multiple occasions by fire and hostile invaders.

See my separate travelogue for more photos.

The Korean Imperial family resided in this complex until the early part of the 20th century. An assault by Japanese soldiers on the palace (before the 1911 annexation) was an early warning sign of Japanese aggression that most of the west chose to ignore.
The complex was a bit run down when I visited but this added to the sense of history.