Gyeongbokgung Palace in Inch'on

Gorgeous historical palace and a must see whilst youre in Seoul! The palace is massive, and you get free entry to the palace if you hire/ wear traditional Korean clothing 😊.Due to the size of the palace, it may take up to 2+ hours to venture the full site. If you plan on doing a photoshoot in your Korean clothing, it would be best to hire the clothing for a full day ( it could range from 10-14,000 won upwards, depending where you hire the clothing from). There are many hire stores available on the street across from the palace, so definitely check them out before entering the palace.The palace also has a small show at their entrance way. The palace guards will present what their routinely patrol looks like +their patrol leads role.

Worth a one time visit. Tip for people who plan to visit - you can rent traditional Korean dress from shops nearby starting from 10000won and get free entrance.

I had the opportunity to visit the palace of Korea, see with my own eyes the golden throne of the king, young people love it here, visit and wear traditional costumes, and are very excited for international guests to experience the unique culture. by Korean people, I like it very much

If you want to learn more about South Korea culture you must visit this place. You will enjoy every corner of this place. Highly recommend.

Definitly recommended. You should also enjoy the less crowded environment before lunch. If you rent a traditional dress in advance - entry is free.

Amazing palace complex that you need at least 2 hours to get through. Opens at 9am. Costs 3000KW to get in, pay at the booth inside the main gate. Make sure to catch the changing of the guard (we saw this at 10aminside the main gate - you don’t need a ticket for this. Free English guided tours start at 11am. There’s also a cool free virtual reality activity that lasts a couple of minutes through the second gate.

The place absolutely beautiful.. and huge.. so if u wanna visit there u have to go there early or night time also is great😘 the place is so huge so b4 going there I suggest for you to eat first.. because u got to have a lot of energy for walking and taking lots of beautiful pictures... and also the most important part is.. going inside without experiencing to wear the Koreans traditional clothes is boring.. so I suggest u go to a store nearby outside the palace and u will see a shop where you can rent a clothes for just 10kwon a day.. and fix your Har for 5kwon.. reasonable right.. and u will got to get a free of entrance to the palace too... so enjoy😘💜

Beautiful palace, you definitely spend at-least 2.5 hours to explore the entire area. There are a lot of places to take pictures. If you want to rent the traditional Korean hanbok, there are shops nearby though you have to purchase before entering the palace.

An incredible historical site that actively encourages visitors to embrace ancient Korean culture. If you rent traditional attire from a nearby hanbok shop, you can enter the palace for free! A truly immersive and awe-inspiring experience.

In the center, this place is surrounded by tall buildings, according to the guide, each gate and building were built to serve different purposes. Studying building, working building, toilet, kitchen. And a place for a meeting also.

Must visit location if you are in Seoul. The change of the palace guard happens twice a day and is a must see event. The ticket prices are relatively cheap and there is a lot of ground to cover, so you could spend all day here and in the surrounding neighborhoods. A lot of people rent hanbok to take pictures.We recommend going during cooler months and to bring an umbrella for shade because there isnt any.

Worth to visit. Beautiful area to walk around and learn some Korean history. Of all the palaces in Seoul, this is the main one and a must.

Take 1.5 hour to visit Gyeongbokgung palace. Price of 3000 KRW is very affordable.Preferable to take an audio guide to understand places purposes and life of royal family in their time.Coexistence of modernity and tradition is in Korea DNA, it is surprising to see this palace surrounded by modern buildings.

Feel like you are in a old korean movie. Very impressive remodel of the old palace, with green landscape surrounding. Suitable for both adults and kids.

The palace is huge.if you want to see everything and every corner then you have to come in the morning and then may be you will be able to cover the entire area. The area is photogenic. During chuseok the entry fee is free and many areas are opened during chuseok which are not available other times. There is parking lot so no worries about parking your car. Inside the palace you will find art cafe for refreshments.

Honestly, its well worth the entry fee. The atmosphere is just magical to walk around in.And while youre at it, visit the Museum thats located right next to the Palace. Its free and has some amazing exhibits!

The palace is a worth visit touristic and historical place in Seoul. The palace has been restored after the destruction from WWII by the Japanese invasion. Unfortunately for the residence areas of the King, Queen and Mother queen you only can see from the outside which is a pity.The palace and its compound are quite big as it was used by the royal family for living with barely any time for them outside of it.Shade is scarce so better be prepared with a cap or an umbrella and plenty of water.There’s a cafeteria inside but inside to the Folks’ museum.

This is my second visit to the palace. July - August is the rainy season and in our first two days in Seoul, it rained continuously for the entire day and you wouldnt want to visit on a rainy day as there is very little shelter to be found, puddles of water everywhere, and you cant get good photographs on a dark and gloomy day.The third day saw good sun and we immediately made our way there. You have an option to purchase the tickets for just Gyeongbokgung or a ticket for all the 4 palaces.If you had watched Korean period dramas, it will be interesting for you to walk the palace grounds to have a peek into the very places which Kings of the past used to work, the bigger halls where he will meet his officials to discuss matters of the state which is not unlike the current parliament that we are familiar with. Then there are smaller buildings where the King will use to peruse petitions filed by the officials, just like a personal office. And of course there is also a building where the King will rest and dine too. The Queen and his wives will reside in separate buildings. There is also a lake and a pavilion within, and you will need to make reservations for a special tour to visit the pavilion which is found in the middle of the lake. Unfortunately, we were not aware of this, thus we have to give the pavilion tour a miss.I took about 2 hours exploring the sprawling compound of Gyeongbokgung, admiring the architecture of the buildings and taking many photographs.Overall, I enjoyed the visit. However, you will note that there is very little signs or information put up for all those buildings you see inside. For people like me who knows Chinese and watches a lot of Korean period dramas, I more or less can figure the function of each building by its name which contains Chinese characters, otherwise, you can just peek inside and you probably will have an idea of the function of that particular building too.Ticket at 3000KRW for adults, it is really worth a visit(if it is your first time)to walk the grounds where the royalty of the past used to tread.

Great place for sightseeing 👍 please take about 1.5hours to walk around…and it might be wonderful in snow season!

A nice place to visit and see Koreas historical place. It is one of the largest Palace in Korea, still keep intact. There is even a museum situated next to it. As we were on tour package, we got the chance to wear Korea ancient clothes and went tour around the Palace. It seemed we had travelled back to the past.

Korean Palace situated on the north end of Seoul nearby a lot of the old Seoul. There are few dozen rental places left of the palace where you can rent Korean traditional dress for about 15,000 won per hour. You get in free if you wearing one so very fun experience.

Just something you should definitely see on your first trip to Seoul. The culture and history is important! A lot of people rented hanboks (although it was the end of July and blazing hot outsideand we’re wearing them for pictures and to walk around. Side note: if you rent hanboks you can get into all of the palaces for free. The palace was stunning. We got some cool pictures. You can get around with a stroller- it’s just not that easy. Also. I suggest if you’re going to come here don’t do it during the middle of the summer and in the hottest part of the afternoon. I felt like I was roasting. Bring lots of water! Prices to enter are cheap. 3,000 krw per adult and children 9 and under are free. We’re glad we went!

Incredible cultural experience with beautiful historical architecture. Guided tours are provided in English and are free. The palace is massive and has plenty of places to explore outside of the guided tour.

Beautiful architecture, plenty of different areas to walk around in and lots of opportunities for pictures. People are usually very nice there which adds to the whole experience.

So amazing experience.I hope that many cultural assets in Korea will be known and well preserved. I was proud to be here.

Priceless. Have to go there with a friend (unless you have photographer)z Remember to rent hanbok online, get ready for photo session! Have a feel to walk in the palace and surrounding in hanbok.Must come visit!

Worth a visit because of its cultural significance and cheap entry cost, but otherwise its very large without much shade, and there is no way to buy water inside, forcing you to leave. There is no re-entry allowed.You could spend all day here and probably not see all of it, so I recommend you do some research beforehand to focus on the areas youd like to see. We walked over 6km.BRING WATER.

This was a beautiful area to walk around and learn some Korean history. The ticket price was very reasonable.We rented hanboks for the day, so admission was free. The ground were lovely and expansive. Rent an audio tour or just peacefully enjoy the palace.Of all the palaces in Seoul, this is the main one and a must.

Quite a nice and expansive place! A lot of things to see and while it was busy, there were quite spots to sit down and relax. Many picture taking opportunities all around!

Should be on the top of your list for tourist attractions in Seoul. Lots of pretty grounds and historical buildings. Well maintained, and easy to navigate.

It’s an amazing place. I liked that I could borrow a traditional outfit in the area. We can meet a lot of people in this outfit. When I come back to Korea, I want to visit this place again. I recommend leaving in the morning when there are not so many people.

Amazing historical place which you must visit! If you don’t want to pay and go in there, just walk in around the palace alongside the walls. You will see lots of people who are wearing Hanbok(Korean traditional clothesand having a tour. So beautiful!

This place is just stunning! Come here in the day and night and you will be amazed by the sheer beauty of this place! There are also guard changing ceremonys at 2pm from what I remember! So definitely go just before then. And definitely take your time to explore the whole place!

A trip to the past, you will find gorgeous views and so much Korean History. You will not be disappointed. Will go back

Gyeongbokgung was originally constructed in 1394 by King Taejo, the first king and the founder of the Joseon dynasty, and its name was conceived by an influential government minister named Jeong Do-jeon. Afterwards, the palace was continuously expanded during the reign of King Taejong and King Sejong the Great. It was severely damaged by fire in 1553, and its costly restoration, ordered by King Myeongjong, was completed in the following year.However, four decades later, the Gyeongbokgung Palace was burnt to the ground during the Japanese invasions of Korea of 1592-1598. The royal court was moved to the Changdeokgung Palace. The Gyeongbokgung palace site was left in ruins for the next three centuries.[4]19th centuryEditIn 1867, during the regency of Daewongun, the palace buildings were reconstructed and formed a massive complex with 330 buildings and 5,792 rooms. Standing on 4,657,576 square feet (432,703 square metersof land, Gyeongbokgung again became an iconic symbol for both the Korean nation and the Korean royal family. In 1894, the Japanese Japanese occupied the palace and forced Gojong to establish a pro-Japanese government. In 1895, after the assassination of Empress Myeongseong by Japanese agents, her husband, Emperor Gojong, left the palace. The Imperial Family never returned to Gyeongbokgung.[5]Early photographs of the reconstructed palaceThrone Hall (1906)Throne Hall (c.1900)Throne (c.1900)Ceiling of Throne Hall (c.1900)Geoncheonggung (c.1900)The Japanese General Government Building standing in front of Geunjeongmun Gate prior to its demolition (1995-96)In 1915, it was used as the site for the Joseon Industrial Exhibition with new exhibition buildings being erected in the grounds.[6][7]Starting from 1911, the colonial government of the Empire of Japan systemically demolished all but 10 buildings during the Japanese occupation of Korea and hosted numerous exhibitions in Gyeongbokgung, ongoing demotion was opposed by Yanagi Sōetsu. In 1926, the government constructed the massive Japanese General Government Building in front of the throne hall, Geunjeongjeon [ko], in order to eradicate the symbol and heritage of the Joseon dynasty. Gwanghwamun Gate, the main and south gate of Gyeongbokgung, was relocated by the Japanese to the east of the palace. A further exhibition, the Chosun Exhibition, followed in 1929.[8]The palace faced further damage when the wooden structure of the relocated Gwanghwamun Gate was completely destroyed amid the devastation of the Korean War.Gyeongbokgungs original 19th-century palace buildings that survived both the Japanese rule of Colonial Korea and the Korean War include:Geunjeongjeon (the Imperial Throne Hall— National Treasure No. 223.Gyeonghoeru Pavilion — National Treasure No. 224.Hyangwonjeong Pavilion; Jagyeongjeon Hall; Jibokjae Hall; Sajeongjeon Hall; and Sujeongjeon Hall.Modern archaeological surveys have brought 330 building foundations to light.RestorationEditGyeongbokgung todayIn 1989, the South Korean government started a 40-year initiative to rebuild the hundreds of structures that were destroyed by the colonial government of the Empire of Japan, during the period of occupied Colonial Korea (1910-1945).In 1995, the Japanese General Government Building, after many controversial debates about its fate, was demolished in order to reconstruct Heungnyemun Gate and its cloisters. The National Museum of Korea, then located on the palace grounds, was relocated to Yongsan-gu in 2005.By the end of 2009, it was estimated that approximately 40 percent of the structures that were standing before the Japanese occupation of Korea were restored or reconstructed.[9] As a part of phase 5 of the Gyeongbokgung restoration initiative, Gwanghwamun, the main gate to the palace, was restored to its original design. Another 20-year restoration project is planned by the South Korean government to restore Gyeongbokgung to its former status.[10]

Gyeongbokgung Palace. There are 5 palaces in Seoul. So it actually brings a new meaning to palace hopping in Seoul if you are thinking of what to do. This one is the biggest of the 5 and is located right beside the national palace museum so that you can start your palace hopping journey right. During the month of April and May. There are also night tours which is quite a popular activity with the locals.

Interesting palace with a beautiful pond in the middle. We had a lot of fun walking around the buildings in the middle and admiring those who rented costumes to dress up. There are guided tours but I think they are only available in Korean at the moment due to the pandemic.

Id like to share my experience of visiting Gyeong bokgung Plalace.It is located in Jongno-gu,Seoul.It opens 9am to 5pm from Novenber to February.And it depends on season.At summer and fall it opens longer than winter.I learned that the palace is the most imfortant palace in Joseon.And it was builded by Yi Seonggye but it was burned by Japan at Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592.However, it was restored by Heungseon Daewongun to strengthen the throne.There is ritual that change a sumunjang and it is performed twice a day.The ritual involved a Korean traditional music parade.It is a good experience for me, because it ist common experienceIt is worth visiting for taking a picture and for having a new experience.I strongly recommed a visit to Gyeong bokgung Palace.And lastly I will give you a tip.you should go early.If you go early, you can take a picture without other people.

Gyeongbokgung Palace is a fantastic place to visit and a must see for any trip to Seoul. Access is very easy and there are many areas that offer great photo opportunities. The view from the main gate is probably the most famous and also definitely the most crowded. If you want to take a picture here you may have to settle for other people in the background. However, once you get further into the palace grounds it becomes a lot less crowded to the point where once your at the back of the palace there sometimes isnt any other people around and you get a more relaxed private experience. Overall, Although a little busy at the entrance, visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace is a must for any traveller to Seoul.

Really beautiful and definitely made the feeling of being in Korea real. I was lovely to see lots of young people so immersed in their culture!

I chose to go on a really cold day 😂But its a pretty place.Coming from India we are used to seeing huge palaces but this one looks rather cozy :)They have free guided tour at specific timings. I got it at 13.30 in English. That was really nice, the tour guide Suyon was really sweet, she took her time in explaining about the culture and the palace .There is a pond , water was frozen and it looked surreal. I am sure the spring and autumn would be prettier :)

one of the top destinations place of tourists visiting South Korea, especially in the city of Seoul.the distinctive shape of the building so that many tourists visit this place to know more about the history and take photos in front of this building area

A must see while visiting Seoul or S Korea for that matter. Massive, sprawling complex with lots to see. Perfectly centralized location in the city. Admission fee decently priced.

The Winter experience in Gyeonbokgung Palace is totally difference. So you have to see this palace in Winter. The Frozen lakes, the trees really bring a different feeling. If youre a kdrama fan the winter scenery here will definitely remind you of Moon Lovers drama. The palace closes at 5.00 pm. So plan your day accordingly.

Calming place to walk around. Nice change of pace look away from the city. There is a little cafe inside and a lot of people wearing dresses from back then

Its a straightforward, traditional Korean Palace. It was nice to read its history - its already been restored twice after the Japanese destroyed it in the 1500s and 1915! Appreciate all the work to restore and maintain it!

Wonderful place to visit while in Seoul! The palace opens at 9am but be sure to get there a bit earlier to buy your ticket and beat the crowd. The entire site is worth visiting, walk around and get lost exploring the numerous buildings. The changing of the guard takes place at 10am or 2pm every day except Tuesday. Do not miss it, its definitely a sight to see!

A glimpse into the past of Korea. This palace is a vast place with well maintained buildings. There are free tours of the whole monument which are really helpful to understand the historic significance of the palace. Overall liked the architecture and the preservation efforts by the management.

We had a wonderful visit to this beautiful palace and grounds. The architecture, details and colors are fabulous. We visited during Chuseok holidays so it was busy, but it’s so spacious it never felt crowded. Highly recommended!

I visited the Korean Palace Museum when it was raining and pretty miserable, I still had an excellent time. There was a student learning english who walked us around and explained all of the fun historical facts.The buildings are impeccably kept, all of the ornate paintings, stone work and grounds are maintained and beautiful.The volunteer groups that were dressed up all had beautiful traditional costumes. They did not mind us taking photos with them.