Gyeongbukgung Palace, also known as the Royal Palace, is an enjoyable place to visit and to spend the day. On Friday, our KATUSA Soldiers (Korean Augment to United States Army) provided training on Korean Culture to our office staff. They decided that the first place they wanted us to visit during our tour in Korea was the Gyeongbukgung Palace.
Outside the gate of the palace, we arrived in time to experience the changing of the guard as the guards in traditional dress conducted an elaborate ceremony to change the personnel outside of the gates.
Once inside the inner court yard, we were able to few the first of several other structures within the palace gates.
Inside the gates we were also welcomed by the many different Korean girls dressed in traditional dress, as they also sought to tour the palace. Graciously, they were very happy to show off their beautiful dresses for photos from foreign visitors.
Probably the most important structure in the palace was “Geunjeongjeon Hall”, or the “Throne Hall“, where the king once sat on his throne to grant audiences to officials, large official functions, and meeting foreign envoys.
It was an important site on the tour evidenced by the surrounding crowd waiting to enter and worth the wait to see the massive throne.
As we passed the Throne Hall and some of the other buildings, we were able to enjoy the garden areas of the palace.
Visiting Gyeongbukgung Palace was definitely a memorable part of my stay in Korea. I hope that this short visit will not be my last to this beautiful and historic landmark.