Gyeongbokgung Palace

The palace was built in 1395 under Yi Seong-gye, King Taejo, founder of the Joseon dynasty, and became known as the Northern Palace. Many Joseon kings were crowned here. During the Imjin War of 1592 to 1598 its buildings were burned, and the site lay largely in ruins until the regent Heungseon Daewongun led a major reconstruction during King Gojong's reign, with the main structures rebuilt from 1867.

After the assassination of Empress Myeongseong the palace ceased to be a royal residence, and following Japan's annexation of Korea in 1910 most of its several hundred buildings were dismantled or removed; only around 40 pre-colonial structures remained by 1945. A long-term restoration programme began in 1990, rebuilding dozens of halls and gates, and further phases are planned to continue for decades.

Gyeongbokgung is woven into the life of the capital: families picnic-walk its courtyards at weekends, students arrive on school trips, and couples and friends in rented hanbok pose beneath the eaves. The palace's lit-up night openings sell out quickly with local visitors, and nationwide heritage festivals sometimes bring free admission days that draw large crowds. For many Koreans it is a symbol of national history, its decades-long restoration seen as reclaiming what was lost in the colonial period.