Gyeongbokgung Palace - The Hall Where Kings Were Crowned

Photo: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)

A stop on Seoul Palaces, Bukchon and Insadong, a free self-guided tour.

Through two more gates you reach Geunjeongjeon, the throne hall of Gyeongbokgung, the first and grandest palace of the Joseon dynasty. King Taejo founded the palace in 1395, three years after he took power. The court held its biggest ceremonies here, and five kings were crowned on this spot, Sejong among them in 1418.

Look at the stone courtyard. The two rows of small markers are rank stones: each official stood beside the one carved with his rank, civil officials on one side and military officers on the other. The hall itself is the largest main hall of any Joseon palace.

What you see is a rebuild. The palace burned during the Japanese invasions of 1592 and lay in ruins for about 270 years, until the regent Heungseon Daewongun rebuilt it in the 1860s. Entry is ticketed, but anyone wearing hanbok gets in free, which is why you will see so many visitors in rented outfits. Each palace closes one day a week, and not the same day, so check before you go.

Getting here: Pass through Gwanghwamun and Heungnyemun, buy a ticket or show your hanbok at the entrance, and continue through Geunjeongmun into the throne hall courtyard.

Did you know?: For most of the 20th century a huge colonial government building stood between this hall and Gwanghwamun, hiding the palace from the street. Korea tore it down in the mid-1990s.

Photo op: From the middle of the courtyard, let the rows of rank stones lead your eye to the double-roofed hall, with Bugaksan rising behind it.

More on Wikipedia: Geunjeongjeon · Gyeongbokgung · Taejo of Joseon · Heungseon Daewongun

Gyeongbokgung Palace - The Hall Where Kings Were Crowned

Stops on this tour