MY TRAVEL INFO: GYEONGBOKGUNG PALACE, SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

1990 - GYEONGBOKGUNG PALACE

2005 -  GYEONGBOKGUNG PALACE

Built in 1395, Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) is the largest and arguably the most beautiful of the "Five Grand Palaces" from the Joseon Dynasty. Its name translates to "Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven."

Whether you are planning a visit or just exploring the history, here is everything you need to know:

Top Highlights

• Gwanghwamun Gate: The massive main gate that serves as the iconic entrance to the palace.
• Geunjeongjeon (Throne Hall): The heart of the palace where the King held official audiences and received foreign envoys.
• Gyeonghoeru Pavilion: A majestic banquet hall set on a large pond, supported by 48 stone pillars. It is one of the most photographed spots in Seoul.
• Hyangwonjeong Pavilion: A serene, hexagonal pavilion on a small island in the middle of a lake, famous for its picturesque bridge.

Royal Guard Changing Ceremony: A colorful reenactment of the Joseon-era guard shift.

• Times: 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM (Daily, except Tuesdays).
• Location: In front of the Gwanghwamun Gate.

Visitor Information

Feature	Details
Status	Closed on Tuesdays
Opening Hours	09:00 AM – 5:00 PM or 6:30 PM (Varies by season; last entry 1 hour before closing)
Admission Fee	3,000 KRW (~$2.30 USD) for adults / 1,500 KRW for children
Free Entry	Wear a Hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) for free admission!
Subway Access	Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3, Exit 5) or Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5)

Pro-Tips for Your Visit

• Rent a Hanbok: There are dozens of rental shops right outside the palace. Not only is it a great photo opportunity, but it also saves you the ticket price.
• English Guided Tours: Free English tours depart from the Information Center (inside Heungnyemun Gate) at 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3:30 PM.
• Night Viewings: In the spring and fall (typically April–May and Sept–Oct), the palace opens for limited night viewings. Tickets for these sell out almost instantly, but Hanbok wearers can often enter without a reservation.
• Two-for-One: The National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum are both located within the palace grounds—your entry fee (or Hanbok) gets you into the grounds for these as well.

A Brief History

The palace has survived a turbulent past. It was the primary seat of power until it was destroyed by fire during the Japanese invasions in 1592. It lay in ruins for nearly 300 years before being rebuilt in 1867. During the Japanese occupation (1910–1945), many buildings were again demolished. Since the 1990s, the South Korean government has been meticulously restoring the palace to its original 14th-century glory.

Visiting Gyeongbokgung in 1990 (with KD Lekir) and again in 2005 (with IEM) means I had witnessed the most dramatic transformation in the palace’s modern history.

When my first visited with KD Lekir (a proud Kasturi-class corvette of the Royal Malaysian Navy) in 1990 , the palace would have looked fundamentally different from when my returned with the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) in 2005.

What Changed Between Your Two Visits?

The 15 years between my visits were the "Golden Age" of the palace's restoration. Here is the transformation that I had likely noticed:

• The Demolition of the "Giant" (1995–1996): In 1990, the view of the palace was dominated by a massive, gray neo-classical building sitting right in front of it—the Japanese Government-General Building. By 2005, it was gone. It was demolished in 1996 to "restore the spirit of the nation," opening up the grand vista from Gwanghwamun Gate to the Throne Hall that you saw during your IEM trip.
• The Rebirth of Heungnyemun (2001): During  KD Lekir visit, the second gate (Heungnyemun) didn't exist—the space was occupied by the Japanese building mentioned above. By 2005, this magnificent gate had been fully reconstructed, restoring the palace's "three-gate" axis.
• The Royal Living Quarters (1990s): When I was there in 1990, the King’s and Queen’s private quarters (Gangnyeongjeon and Gyotaejeon) were mostly just empty plots of land. They were rebuilt in 1994, so they would have been "new" highlights for my 2005 delegation.

My View:

• 1990 (KD Lekir): It’s fascinating to imagine the Royal Malaysian Navy personnel visiting Seoul back then. At that time, Gyeongbokgung felt more like a quiet park with a few ancient buildings.
• 2005 (IEM): By this time, South Korea was a global engineering powerhouse. Visiting as part of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia, you likely appreciated the technical precision of the restoration—South Korean architects and engineers used traditional joinery (no nails) to rebuild the wooden structures based on the Uigwe (royal protocols).

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

31/12/2025: 10.25 a.m