Gyeongbokgung Palace, meaning greatly blessed by heaven, is a 14th century castle in the northern end of Sejongro boulevard Seoul. Destroyed in the 16th century, restored in the 19th century, abandoned by the royal family shortly afterwards it is still in the process of being restored after the last attempt at its destruction during WWII. This Joseon Dynasty palace originally comprised of 330 buildings and 5,792 rooms and was the home of the emperor as well as the seat of administration.
The palace is the best place to get acquainted with Korean court customs and see excellent examples of the country’s traditional architecture. Among the many buildings is Geunjeongjeon, where kings were crowned, audiences given and ambassadors were received. An ornate two storied wooden structure with open sided corridors, it sits on a two tier stone foundation in the middle of a large rectangular flagstone courtyard. Gyeonghoeru is a pavilion raised on 48 stone pillars overlooking an artificial lake with two small islands. Three stone bridges connect the building to the palace ground. State banquets were held here and the kings used the lake for leisure. Further away is the king’s living quarters also raised on stone foundations with a huge central bedroom. Fourteen rectangular rooms set out in a checker board pattern around the room were used by concubines, servants, slaves and guards. Gyotaejeon was the large living quarters of the queen, behind which is a terraced garden which had under floor heating and the decorated chimneys of the heating system still survive in their original condition. To the east is Jaseondang the quarters of the crown prince where he attended to business and lived with his family and entourage. A small two storey decorative hexagonal pavilion in the middle of an artificial lake built centuries ago is still a picturesque sight as is the library used by the kings. Stroll among traditional Korean gardens in a location that has been described as the most scenic in Seoul. A touch of grandeur has been added by soldiers in Joseon era uniforms standing guard and changing of the guard ceremonies. There are even enactments of the Confucius inspired government service examination. The palace now houses the National Folk Museum of Korea and the National Palace Museum.
Somerset Palace Seoul is the place to stay to have access to the city’s business, financial and diplomatic areas. Transport links are just a few steps away and historical sites, restaurants and shopping areas can therefore be easily accessed. This prominent Seoul apartment complex offer well designed spacious, fully equipped studio, one and two bedroom apartments and penthouses with a range of facilities and amenities that make them the ideal accommodation for business and leisure visitors. Stay at these Seoul serviced apartments to enjoy a hassle free experience.
Umanga Kahandawaarachchi is a passionate travel writer who writes under the pen name, Maggie Tulliver. Her field of writing covers a wide array of content and articles related to travel and hospitality industry. Google+