Gyeongbokgung Palace

After visiting Seodaemun Prison, we decided to head down the road towards Gyeongbokgung Palace and the National Folk Museum of Korea. I had missed the tour of the palace last time I visited, so I was keen to see inside the actual palace grounds. It was tipping down all afternoon, but it was worth it as the palace buildings were so beautiful.

Gyeongbukgung consists of a number of palaces including Gyeonghoeru, the pavilion on the lake (below) which was King Sejongs party pad where he held all his important banquets. There are three gates and bridges which run across the water to the pavilion - the largest bridge could only be used by the King, the next in size was only to be used by the royal family and the smallest one by everyone else.

Gyeonghoeru Pavilion

Getting the hang of the k-girl pose

Geunjeongjeon is the throne hall of Gyeongbukgung, only the King was allowed to walk up the main steps and into the hall using the middle door.

Geunjeongjeon (Throne Hall)

Inside

The poor old Queen was shunted off to a separate palace (Gyotaejeon) behind the King's sleeping quarters. Her purpose was to provide the King with a male heir and not make a fuss about all the King's concubines. During the Joseon era, Korea was governed by Confucius' principles - women had no status in society and women were not allowed out in public, so the Queen would have been confined to the palace walls. She would have had relatively little power until her husband was succeeded by her son and she would move into the 'dowager's palace'.

The palace buildings and grounds were stunning, but felt, not exactly fake, but not very old! Found out (thanks to wikipedia) that the complex was left in ruins by the Japanese (them again!) at the start of the 20th century, so they have been restored to their previous appearance.