Gyeongbokgung Palace

Gyeongbokgung was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty, first built in 1395, shortly after the dynasty's founding, at the heart of the new capital of Hanseong, present-day Seoul. Its name is often rendered as the "Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven." The grandest of Seoul's Five Grand Palaces, it housed the throne hall Geunjeongjeon, the graceful Gyeonghoeru banquet pavilion set on a pond, and the Hyangwonjeong pavilion. Largely destroyed by fire during the Japanese invasions of the 1590s and left ruined for centuries, it was reconstructed in the 1860s under the regent Heungseon Daewongun, only to be heavily dismantled during the colonial period; extensive restoration continues today.

A palace marked by war, fire and the 1895 assassination of Empress Myeongseong has inevitably drawn ghost lore, with visitors and staff occasionally describing a mournful atmosphere or fleeting impressions in quieter corners. Such accounts are subjective and anecdotal, offered as folklore rather than fact.

Gyeongbokgung remains a centrepiece of Korean heritage, valued for its restored architecture, its royal history and the daily changing-of-the-guard ceremony that connects visitors to Joseon court tradition.

Gyeongbokgung is open to the public as a major heritage site and is generally closed on Tuesdays. Admission is by modestly priced ticket, and visitors wearing traditional hanbok are typically admitted free, a popular option near the palace. The grounds also house the National Palace Museum and the National Folk Museum.

Guided tours in several languages run at set times, and the changing-of-the-guard ceremony takes place at the main gate on a published schedule. The site involves open courtyards and walking; visitors should keep to paths and respect roped-off historic structures.