Gyeongbokgung is the largest and most historically commanding of Seoul's five grand palaces, built in 1395 as the seat of the Joseon Dynasty and the official residence of its kings for over two centuries. Its name translates to 'Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven,' and standing before Gwanghwamun Gate with the Bugaksan mountain range rising behind the main halls, it's easy to understand why the site was chosen with such intention. The palace was devastated by Japanese forces during the Imjin War in 1592, left in ruins for nearly 300 years, and then deliberately dismantled again during the Japanese colonial occupation of the early 20th century — making its ongoing restoration a matter of national pride as much as architectural preservation. Today around 40 percent of the original structures have been rebuilt, with work still continuing.
Palace