Photo Essay: Korea’s Gyeongbokgung Palace

Gyeongbokgung, originally built in 1395, served as the main palace during the Joseon Dynasty. With roughly 7,700 rooms, it is the grandest and largest palace out of the five built by the Joseon Dynasty. It was destroyed by fire during the Japanese Invasion of 1592 and saw many reconstructions throughout the years afterwards, including a major restoration in 1990.
There are a total of 5 palaces in Seoul, so if you only have time for one, you won’t be disappointed choosing Gyeongbokgung. You can stroll through the palace grounds on your own or take one of the 3 free tours offered daily for more insight and historical details about the palace. It really is a beautiful palace and can look quite different depending on the season you’re visiting it.









What you need to know: The palace is open everyday except Tuesdays. Between March and October the operating hours are 9:00 to 18:00, and 9:00 to 17:00 between November and February. Admission costs 3,000won for adults (ages 19-64) and 1,500 for youths (ages 7-18). English spoken tours are offered 3 times a day: 11:00, 13:30, and 15:30.