Gyeongbokgung#Geunjeongjeon

"Gyeongbokgung" means "great blessings palace". The palace and many of its main structures were named by the Korean official Chŏng Tojŏn around the time of the palace's establishment.{{Sfn|김웅호|2022a|p=109}}{{Sfn|이강근|2007|p=34}}{{Sfn|임석재|2019|p=39}} Chŏng named the palace in the 10th month of 1395 after the final two characters of a poem from the Classic of Poetry: "already drunk on alcohol, already full of virtue, gentlemen will long enjoy your great blessings" ({{Lang|zh|旣醉以酒 旣飽以德 君子萬年 介爾景福}}).{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=267}}{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2009|p=96}}

The palace has also been called "Bukgwol" ({{Korean|hangul=북궐|hanja=北闕|mr=Pukkwŏl|labels=no|lit=north palace}}); this term was used in relation to the other palaces in the city.{{Sfn|임석재|2019|p=74}}{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2009|p=86}}

{{Main|History of Gyeongbokgung}}

{{See also|History of Seoul}}

After establishing Joseon in 1392 (Korean calendar), the founding king Taejo (r. 1392–1398) began work in establishing a new capital for his state.{{Sfn|김웅호|2022a|pp=95–97}} In the 8th month of 1394, it was decided that Hanyang (now "Seoul") would be the capital.{{Sfn|임석재|2019|pp=29–30}}

The location of the palace was finalized by the 1st day, 9th month of 1394.{{Sfn|이강근|2007|p=31}}{{Sfn|임석재|2019|p=39}} Construction began on it in the 12th month.{{Sfn|김웅호|2022a|pp=108–109}}{{Sfn|임석재|2019|p=39}} The palace was completed in the 25th day, 9th month of 1395.{{Sfn|Kim|1997|p=63}} The palace's original scale, while smaller and less developed than its later form,{{Sfn|이강근|2007|p=36}}{{Sfn|임석재|2019|p=39}} is difficult to precisely determine; varying estimates have been provided.{{Sfn|이강근|2007|p=32}} Various scholars have claimed that it had 390 rooms ({{Korean|hangul=칸|mr=k'an|labels=no}}){{Sfn|이강근|2007|p=32}}{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=267}} or 755 rooms.{{Sfn|김웅호|2022a|p=109}} On the 28th day, 12th month, Taejo moved into the palace.{{Sfn|김웅호|2022a|p=109}}{{Sfn|임석재|2019|p=39}} In 1398, amidst political turmoil, Joseon's capital was changed to Kaegyŏng (now Kaesong), then back to Hanyang in 1905.{{sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2009|p=97}}{{Sfn|이강근|2007|pp=36–37}}{{Sfn|임석재|2019|p=78}} The palace was abandoned for about ten years.{{Sfn|이강근|2007|pp=36–37}}

In 1404, King Taejong (r. 1400–1418) ordered that the palace Changdeokgung be established in Hanyang.{{Sfn|이강근|2007|pp=36–37}} Upon his return to the city in 1405, he began to reside in that palace. In 1406, he began efforts to repair Gyeongbokgung.{{sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2009|p=97}}{{Sfn|이강근|2007|pp=36–37}} Although he repaired and expanded Gyeongbokgung, Taejong functionally avoided it, possibly because he associated it with unpleasant memories of political turmoil. He primarily resided in Changdeokgung instead.{{Sfn|임석재|2019|pp=88–90}} Until the Imjin War, Taejong and his successors had Gyeongbokgung as their official palace ({{Korean|hangul=법궁|hanja=法宮|mr=pŏpkung|labels=no}}), but had secondary palaces ({{Korean|hangul=이궁|hanja=離宮|mr=igung|labels=no}}) that they often resided in more or moved between.{{Sfn|임석재|2019|pp=88–90}}{{sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2009|pp=71–72}}

File:중묘조서연관사연도.png |publisher=Academy of Korean Studies |lang=ko |access-date=2025-03-04 |author=신선영}}}} of a 1535 banquet in the palace{{Sfn|Yoo|2024|p=115}}]]

In 1421, Sejong the Great (r. 1418–1450) made Gyeongbokgung his primary palace. By 1427, he officially moved out of Changdeokgung and into Gyeongbokgung.{{Sfn|이강근|2007|pp=36–37}} Sejong greatly renovated and expanded the palace.{{Sfn|이강근|2007|pp=36–37}} It was during Sejong's reign that Gyeongbokgung became fully-fledged and functional.{{Sfn|이강근|2007|pp=36–37}}{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=267}} Under Sejong, the palace hosted a number of scientific devices, including the water clock Borugak Jagyeongnu, a facility for producing movable type,{{Sfn|이강근|2007|pp=37–38}} and the astronomical observatory {{Ill|Ganuidae|ko|간의대}}.{{Sfn|이강근|2007|p=37}}{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2009|p=150}} The palace was then host to the Hall of Worthies and {{Ill|Ŏnmunch'ŏng|ko|언문청}}, which assisted Sejong in developing Hangul.{{Sfn|임석재|2019|p=82}}{{Sfn|이강근|2007|pp=37–38}} The palace remained in much the same form from Sejong's reign for around a hundred years.{{Sfn|이강근|2007|p=39}}

File:도성대지도_경복궁.jpg.]]

In 1592, during the 1592–1598 Imjin War, Gyeongbokgung and the other two palaces in the city were completely burned down.{{Sfn|김웅호|2022a|pp=113–114}}{{Sfn|임석재|2019|p=83}} It is debated who burned down the palaces. Various contemporary Korean texts, including the {{Ill|Veritable Records of Seonjo|ko|선조실록}}, report hearsay that it was Korean commoners who burned down the palace to destroy palace records. However, the palace was still in tact when the Japanese invaders entered the city on the 2nd day, 5th month of that year. Japanese discipline in the city was reportedly initially high, but when they began suffering defeats, they took their frustrations out on the city and locals, burning buildings.{{Sfn|이강근|2007|pp=40–41}}

King Seonjo (r. 1567–1608) had fled the city before the Japanese had entered it. After he returned to Hanyang, he ordered that plans for the Gyeongbokgung's reconstruction be drawn up.{{Sfn|김웅호|2022a|pp=113–114}} However, Joseon's economy was still recovering from the devastating war and finances were tight; Gyeongbokgung's reconstruction was indefinitely postponed and the state's resources were mostly focused on rebuilding Changdeokgung.{{Sfn|이강근|2019|p=14}}{{sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2009|p=98}}

For around 270 years afterwards, Gyeongbokgung went mostly unused and undeveloped.{{Sfn|이강근|2007|p=42}}{{Sfn|김웅호|2022a|pp=114–119}}{{Sfn|Kim|1997|p=65}} Over time, various kings expressed interest in rebuilding the palace, but did not act on this, due to financial constraints and the other palaces in the city being sufficient.{{Sfn|이강근|2007|p=42}}

On the 2nd day, 4th month of 1865, Queen Sinjeong, regent of the penultimate Korean monarch King Gojong (r. 1864–1907), ordered that the palace be reconstructed.{{Sfn|김웅호|2022a|p=121}}{{Sfn|이규철|2007|p=43}} Construction began on the 13th day of that month.{{Sfn|이강근|2019|p=15}}{{Sfn|Kim|1997|p=65}} Gojong and the royal family moved into the palace on the 2nd day, 7th month of 1868.{{Sfn|이규철|2007|p=46}}{{Sfn|김웅호|2022a|p=121}}{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=272}} Construction continued until 1873.{{Sfn|이규철|2007|p=46}}

The palace experienced a major fire on the 10th day, 12th month of 1873.{{Sfn|이규철|2007|pp=52–54}}{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=272}} After delays due to financial restraints, reconstruction began on the 27th day, 3rd month of 1875.{{Sfn|이규철|2007|pp=52–54}} Gojong returned to Gyeongbokgung on the 27th day, 5th month of that year,{{Sfn|이규철|2007|pp=52–54}}{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=272}} and repairs concluded on the 3rd day, 6th month.{{Sfn|이규철|2007|pp=52–54}} However, on the 4th day, 11th month of 1876, another major fire broke out.{{Cite web |date= |script-title=ko:경복궁에 화재가 일어나다 |trans-title=A fire begins at Gyeongbokgung |url=https://sillok.history.go.kr/id/kza_11311004_001 |website=Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty |publisher=National Institute of Korean History |language=ko}}{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=272}} It caused more than twice as much damage as its predecessor.{{Sfn|이규철|2007|p=54}}{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=268}} Gojong was exasperated by the fires, and relocated to Changdeokgung.{{Sfn|이규철|2007|p=54}} Reconstruction on Gyeongbokgung began in 1881.{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=268}} Gojong did not return to Gyeongbokgung until 1884, after the Kapsin Coup.{{sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2009|p=99}} In 1887, the first electric light in Korea was turned on in Gyeongbokgung.{{Cite book |last=Nam |first=Moon-Hyon |chapter=Early history of Korean electric light and power development |date=August 2007 |title=2007 IEEE Conference on the History of Electric Power |chapter-url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/4510266 |pages=192–200 |doi=10.1109/HEP.2007.4510266|isbn=978-1-4244-1343-0 }}{{Sfn|Kim|2012|p=297}}{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2009|p=142}} Reconstruction was finally completed in 1888.{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=268}}

Meanwhile, the palace and Korea experienced significant political turmoil.{{Sfn|Kim|2012|pp=293–294}} In 1895, the Korean Queen Min was assassinated by Japanese agents at {{ill|Geoncheonggung (Gyeongbokgung)|lt=Geoncheonggung|ko|건청궁 (경복궁)}} in the palace.{{Sfn|신혜원|2007a|p=68}} Afterwards, Gojong fled to the Russian legation for protection in 1896.{{Sfn|이규철|2007|p=55}}

File:Gyeongbokgung_(1886).png|The palace in 1886

File:Burtonholmestrav10holmiala_0054_(cropped).jpg|An electric light in Geoncheonggung (1901{{Cite journal |last=Moon |first=Im Baek |date=2012 |script-title=ko:버튼 홈즈(E. Burton Holmes)의 서울 여행기와 영화 |trans-title=A Study of Travelogue and Film on Seoul by E. Burton Holmes |url=https://www.kci.go.kr/kciportal/ci/sereArticleSearch/ciSereArtiView.kci?sereArticleSearchBean.artiId=ART001682434 |journal=현대문학의 연구 |language=ko |issue=47 |pages=62–63 |via=Korea Citation Index}})

File:朝鮮京城_大鳥公使大院君ヲ護衛ス.png|Print of Japanese troops storming Gyeongbokgung (1894)

File:도면 사적 제117호 경복궁 광화문 및 기타권역 복원정비계획 기술용역 (도면) 북궐도형.jpg

Rather than return to Gyeongbokgung, where Min had been assassinated, Gojong chose to make Gyeongungung (later called "Deoksugung") his primary residence for its proximity to various foreign legations, which he believed could help protect him from Japan.{{Sfn|Kim|2012|pp=308–309}}{{Sfn|임석재|2019|p=87}} He then declared the establishment of the Korean Empire.{{Sfn|Kim|2012|pp=308–309}} Thereafter, Gyeongbokgung was not significantly used by Gojong.{{Sfn|이규철|2007|pp=56–59}} In 1905, Japan began indirectly ruling Korea,{{Sfn|이규철|2007|pp=56–59}} and in 1907, Gojong was forced to abdicate in lieu of his son, Sunjong. Sunjong began to use Changdeokgung as his main palace.{{Sfn|Henry|2014|p=29}}

In 1907, even before annexing Korea, Japan made Gyeongbokgung into a public park.{{Sfn|이규철|2007|pp=59–61}} Under pressure from Japan, the government began auctioning off the palace's property to the public in 1910, just before Korea was annexed.{{Sfn|이규철|2007|pp=59–61}} Mostly Japanese people bought the buildings and had them sent elsewhere.{{Sfn|Park|Woo|2007|pp=133–134}}

File:조선물산공진회_광고지-1_(부분)_(cropped).jpg

Gyeongbokgung, as a symbol of the Korean monarchy's authority, was systematically dismantled by the Japanese colonial government.{{Sfn|신혜원|2007a|p=65}}{{Sfn|Shin|2018|p=132}}{{Sfn|Henry|2014|p=60}} Throughout the colonial period, hundreds of buildings in the palace were demolished under Japanese pressure.{{Sfn|Park|Woo|2007|p=134}}{{Sfn|Seoul Historiography Institute|2022b|p=288}} The palace was rapidly modified in anticipation of the 1915 Chōsen Industrial Exhibition; dozens of buildings were sold off and demolished.{{Sfn|신혜원|2007a|pp=70–72}}{{Sfn|Park|Woo|2007|pp=133–134}} One such building, Jaseondang, was reassembled in the private home of Japanese businessman Ōkura Kihachirō in Tokyo.{{Sfn|신혜원|2007a|p=73}}{{Sfn|Choi|2010|p=200}} More exhibitions continued to be held at the palace afterwards, including the 1929 Chōsen Exhibition ({{Korean|hangul=조선박람회|hanja=朝鮮博覽會|labels=no}}).{{Sfn|신혜원|2007a|p=89}}

File:Government-General_of_Chōsen_Building_under_construction_(cropped).jpg

On June 25, 1916, the colonial government began symbolically constructing their new headquarters in the palace: the Government-General of Chōsen Building. Construction would last for around 10 years, until October 1, 1926.{{Sfn|신혜원|2007a|pp=79–80}}{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=273}} The various construction projects in the palace drew from an eclectic mix of modern Western architectural styles. This has been evaluated as attempting to portray Japan as modernizing and open, and Korea as backward and closed.{{Sfn|Henry|2014|pp=97–101}}{{Sfn|Seoul Historiography Institute|2022b|p=266}}

On November 10, 1917, a major fire at Changdeokgung destroyed much of that palace. The colonial government ordered that many of Gyeongbokgung's buildings be moved to Changdeokgung.{{Sfn|신혜원|2007a|p=87}}{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=273}} In 1938, the final pre-colonial building west and south of Geunjeongjeon, an office building for the {{Ill|Sŏnjŏn'gwan|ko|선전관}}, was demolished.{{Sfn|신혜원|2007a|pp=83–84}}{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=273}}

File:Aerial_of_Keijo_(Seoul)_Korea,_Taken_by_USS_Antietam_(cropped).jpg

Soon after the August 1945 liberation of Korea, the palace continued to be used much as it had been during the colonial period.{{Sfn|신혜원|2007b|p=96}}{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=269}} Voices advocated for the restoration and maintenance of the palace, but these went largely unheeded amidst the chaos of the liberation and division of Korea, as well as the establishment of the United States Army Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK).{{Sfn|신혜원|2007b|p=96}} In September 1945, the USAMGIK headquartered itself in the Government-General of Chōsen Building (which began to be called the "Central Government Building"; CGB; {{Korean|hangul=중앙청|hanja=中央廳|labels=no}}{{Sfn|신혜원|2007b|p=96}}{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=269}}) in the palace.{{Sfn|Kim|2010|p=86}} That building continued to be used for important functions through the rest of the 1940s, including for a ceremony for the establishment of South Korea.{{Sfn|신혜원|2007b|p=96}}

During the 1950–1953 Korean War, the palace was heavily damaged and even looted. It was only on December 19, 1952 that the Ministry of Culture and Education established a committee to assess and repair the country's historic assets. Even then, maintenance of historical assets was considered a lesser priority compared to restoring the country's basic social services like primary education. After some repairs to the palace, it was reopened to the public in January 1953.{{Sfn|신혜원|2007b|pp=97–98}}

{{See also|Third Republic of Korea|Fourth Republic of Korea}}

File:경복궁_경회루_스케이트장.jpg

Amidst the May 16 coup of 1961, Park Chung Hee seized power in the country. Part of the {{Ill|Capital Defense Command|ko|수도방위사령부}} became stationed in the northwest of the palace that year. On January 21, 1963, the palace was made a Historic Site of South Korea.{{Sfn|신혜원|2007b|pp=99–100}} The budget for restoration and maintenance of the palace was tight, so such efforts were often small in scale.{{Sfn|신혜원|2007b|pp=102–104}}{{Sfn|Kim|2010|p=87}}{{Sfn|신혜원|2007b|pp=99–100}} Structures like Gwanghwamun and Yeongchumun were recreated, albeit controversially using reinforced concrete and not in their original spots.{{Sfn|신혜원|2007b|pp=101–103}} From the late 1960s to the early 1970s, a building that now houses the National Folk Museum of Korea was constructed.{{Sfn|신혜원|2007b|pp=99–100}}

File:경복궁_복원공사_현장.jpg

The 1980s saw the beginnings of more and higher quality work on preserving South Korean cultural heritage sites.{{Sfn|신혜원|2007b|pp=104–105}}{{Sfn|임석재|2019|p=88}} On May 22, 1984, a comprehensive management plan for the palaces was approved that historian Shin Hye-won evaluated as being the first significant post-liberation effort to restore the pre-colonial dignity of the palaces.{{Sfn|신혜원|2007b|pp=104–105}}

In 1990, the First Gyeongbokgung Restoration Plan ({{Korean|hangul=경복궁 1차 복원사업|labels=no}}) began. The aim was to begin restoring the palace to its Gojong-era state in 1888 (which had around 500 buildings).{{Sfn|신혜원|2007b|pp=104–105}}{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|pp=86–87}}{{Cite news |author=김기철 |date=2010-08-16 |script-title=ko:[광복절 65주년] 경복궁, 500여 전각중 125棟 옛모습 찾아 |trans-title=[65th Anniversary of Liberation Day] Gyeongbokgung, 125 of its 500 buildings restored |url=https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/08/16/2010081600045.html |access-date=2025-04-19 |work=The Chosun Ilbo |language=ko}} The plan was to be carried out in five overlapping stages from 1990 to 2009.{{Sfn|Kim|1997|pp=74–75}}

File:완전철거된_구_조선총독부_건물_2.jpg

From 1995 to 1996,{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=273}} the CGB was finally demolished after much public debate.{{Sfn|Choi|2010|pp=204–205}}{{Sfn|신혜원|2007b|pp=106–107}}{{Sfn|Henry|2014|p=210}} Once it was removed, work began to restore the buildings that formerly occupied its spot.{{Sfn|신혜원|2007b|pp=106–107}} In 1995, the former Government-General of Chōsen Art Museum building was demolished{{Sfn|신혜원|2007b|p=95}}{{Sfn|Kim|1997|pp=74–75}} and the remains of Gyeongbokgung's former building Jaseondang (which had been sold and moved to Japan) were returned to Korea.{{Sfn|신혜원|2007b|p=106}} In 1996, the Capital Defense Command buildings were removed.{{Sfn|신혜원|2007b|pp=99–100}}{{Sfn|Kim|1997|p=76}} The reenactment of the changing of the guard ceremony began in 2002.{{Sfn|Chun|2023|p=209}}

The First Gyeongbokgung Restoration Plan was completed in 2010. It resulted in the restoration of 89 buildings. At that point, the palace had around 25% of its original buildings. The Second Gyeongbokgung Restoration Plan ({{Korean|hangul=경복궁 2차 복원기본계획|labels=no}}) began in 2010. It is currently set to run until 2045 and to result in the recreation of 90 buildings.{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=157}}

File:광여도 도성도 (cropped).jpg

The placement of both Gyeongbokgung and Hanyang considered both practicality and various philosophical traditions.{{Sfn|이원명|2013|pp=160–164}}{{Sfn|이강근|2007|pp=34–35}}{{Sfn|임석재|2019|pp=30–32}} The capital needed to have good access to water transportation, adequate spaces for roads to the rest of Korea, and adequate space for farming.{{Sfn|임석재|2019|pp=38–39}} For philosophical traditions, one factor used from the Chinese text Rites of Zhou was placing the {{Ill|ancestral temple left and soil and grain temple to the right|lt=ancestral temple on the left, and soil and grain temple on the right|zh|左祖右社}}. Accordingly, Jongmyo is to the left of the palace and Sajikdan to the right.{{Sfn|김웅호|2022a|p=98}}{{Sfn|임석재|2019|pp=69–70}} Another factor from the Rites was placing government offices to the front of the palace and markets to the rear; only the offices were able to be placed like so, as there wasn't enough room behind the palace for markets.{{Sfn|김웅호|2022a|pp=98–99}}{{Sfn|임석재|2019|p=71}} Feng shui was also considered. The flow of Korea's mountains and watersheds was analyzed, with one goal being having the palace {{Ill|back to the mountains and facing the water|lt=with a mountain behind it and water to the front|ko|배산임수}}. This corresponds to Bugaksan, Cheonggyecheon, and the Han River.{{Sfn|홍순민|2022a|p=37}}{{Sfn|임석재|2019|p=35}} The presence of four surrounding major mountains (Bugaksan, Naksan, Inwangsan, and Namsan{{Efn|Collectively referred to as naesasan ({{Korean|hangul=내사산|labels=no}}) or sasinsa ({{Korean|hangul=사신사|hanja=四神砂|labels=no}}).{{sfn|임석재|2019|pp=34-35}}}}) in Hanyang was seen as auspicious and protecting the city. Hanyang also had an outer ring of surrounding mountains (Bukhansan, Achasan, Gwanaksan, and Deogyangsan{{Efn|Collectively referred to as oesasan ({{Korean|hangul=외사산|labels=no}}).{{sfn|임석재|2019|p=35}}}}), adding to its auspiciousness.{{Sfn|임석재|2019|pp=34–35}} Contemporary Korean Buddhist monks then considered the convergence point of three mountains and two rivers to be auspicious sites: Hanyang had Samgaksan, Yongmunsan, and Gwanaksan and the confluence of the rivers Bukhan and Namhan.{{Sfn|임석재|2019|p=33}}

The palace's main features are mostly placed symmetrically and along a north-south axis.{{Sfn|임석재|2019|p=92}} The palace's initial layout was designed to follow a principle from the Chinese work Kaogongji, part of the Rites of Zhou. That text advocated for palaces to have three gates and three courtyards ({{Korean|hangul=삼문삼조|hanja=三門三朝|mr=sammunsamjo|labels=no}}) that are to be accessed in sequential order.{{Sfn|이강근|2007|p=34}}{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2009|pp=65–67}} These were the front gate of the palace Gwanghwamun and first courtyard ({{Korean|hangul=외조|hanja=外朝|mr=oejo|labels=no}}; used for government offices), Geunjeongmun and second courtyard ({{Korean|hangul=치조|hanja=治朝|mr=ch'ijo|labels=no}}; used for conducting politics between the king and his subjects), and Hyangomun and third courtyard ({{Korean|hangul=연조|hanja=燕朝|mr=yŏnjo|labels=no}}; where the king and his family resided).{{Sfn|이강근|2007|p=34}}{{Sfn|서정남|2007|p=154}}

Chŏng named the palace's main buildings with inspiration from the Book of Documents. The buildings are symbolically named to reflect Neo-Confucian principles. This was in contrast to Goryeo-era ideals and building names, which reflected both Confucian and Buddhist ideals.{{Sfn|장지연|2013|p=302}} Furthermore, Chŏng's arguments for the location of the palace, which were primarily based on Neo-Confucianism, were prioritized over the Buddhist arguments of the monk Muhak.{{Sfn|임석재|2019|p=42}} These decisions reflected Joseon's prioritization of Confucianism over Buddhism on a state-level.{{Sfn|장지연|2013|p=302}}{{Sfn|임석재|2019|p=42}}

The reasons for why Joseon kings often did not primarily reside in Gyeongbokgung have been analyzed. Im theorized that Changdeokgung was preferred by many kings over Gyeongbokgung because of its more central location in the city, larger area, and less rigid and dense design.{{Sfn|임석재|2019|pp=74, 80, 94–95}}

The rebuilt palace was designed to reflect various concepts in the I Ching and {{Ill|Taijitushuo|zh|太极图说}}, such as yin and yang, the bagua, and the hexagram.{{Sfn|이강근|2019|pp=30–32}} New buildings were named by the Yŏnggŏndogam.{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=268}} The palace was densely packed with buildings.{{Sfn|임석재|2019|p=86}} Attempts were made to give some of the buildings' roofs blue tiles, like was done in the original palace, but the Goryeo ware techniques needed to create these had been lost during the Imjin War, when the ceramics industry collapsed and many Korean artisans were enslaved and taken to Japan. Ultimately, such tiles were not used in the recreation.{{Sfn|이권영|2019|pp=274–278}} Dragon-shaped water spout statues around the palace are likely, in part, symbolic wardens to protect the palace from fire.{{Sfn|김민규|2019|pp=318–319}}

There are differing opinions as to the faithfulness of this reconstruction to the pre-war palace. Documents that may have been helpful for recreating the palace had been lost during the Japanese invasions.{{Sfn|Chun|2023|p=220}} Several scholars have argued that while the palace's overall layout and major structures were not significantly different from their predecessors, a number of buildings were original or used differently.{{Sfn|김웅호|2022a|pp=126–127}}{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2009|p=99}} Michael Kim evaluated the reconstruction as significantly different.{{Sfn|Kim|2010|pp=78–79}}

A 2020 report stated that the palace had 9,499 trees of 135 species.{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=221}}

The historical authenticity of the various recreated buildings has been a source of recurring controversy and debate. Authentic recreations are difficult to achieve for a number of reasons. Korean architecture of the Joseon period did not rely on modern-style blueprints, and records of how specific buildings were constructed are often sparse. The styles of such buildings also varied depending on individual craftsmen. Furthermore, some have argued that materials used for construction should be sourced from within Korea itself.{{Sfn|Choi|2010|pp=205–207}}

The palace is in a key location in modern Seoul. It is surrounded by numerous important buildings used by the government, military, business, and tourist industry. To its north is the presidential residence the Blue House. To its south are Gwanghwamun Square, Government Complex, Sejong Center, Embassy of the United States, and Embassy of Japan. In addition, various stone monuments around the palace indicate the former sites of historic buildings or events associated with those spots.{{Sfn|서정남|2007|pp=157–159}}

{{Main|List of landmarks in Gyeongbokgung}}

The palace has had a varying number of features and landmarks over time. After the significant alterations and demolitions of the colonial period, efforts are currently ongoing to restore the palace to its pre-colonial state in 1888; around that time the palace had around 500 buildings.{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|pp=86–87}}

The National Palace Museum of Korea is located in a modern three-story building on the southwestern part of the palace grounds. Its collection aggregates various artifacts from the former Korean royal family.{{Cite news |author=정아란 |date=2019-08-14 |script-title=ko:고궁박물관 14년간 1천600만명 다녀가…내일 개관기념 행사 |trans-title=16 million people have visited the National Palace Museum over 14 years.... Anniversary ceremony tomorrow |url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20190814034800005 |access-date=2025-04-21 |work=Yonhap News Agency |language=ko}}{{Citation |author=김정임 |script-title=ko:국립고궁박물관 (國立古宮博物館) |work=Encyclopedia of Korean Culture |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0069253 |access-date=2025-04-21 |publisher=Academy of Korean Studies |language=ko}} The National Folk Museum of Korea is housed in a modern-style building in the eastern part of the palace. It has three floors above ground and one below.{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=131}} This museum's building is set to be demolished in 2026 and the museum relocated to Sejong City. The pre-colonial buildings that used to occupy its spot will then be restored.{{Sfn|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020|p=192}}

File:Gyeongbokgung Visitor Statistics (2002–2024).png

The palace is considered among the most significant and representative tourist sites of South Korea,{{Sfn|임석재|2019|p=5}} and even a symbol of pre-modern Korea as a whole.{{Sfn|임석재|2019|p=77}}

According to data from the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute, from July 2005 to December 2024, the palace had a total of 56,030,499 visitors, more than any other tourist site in Seoul.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-17 |script-title=ko:주요관광지점 입장객 (2004.07 이후) |url=https://know.tour.go.kr/stat/visitStatDis/table.do |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=관광지식정보시스템 |publisher=Korea Culture & Tourism Institute}} In 2017, it was the second-most visited tourist site in the country, after the amusement park Everland.{{Cite web |author=박정규 |date=2017-07-19 |script-title=ko:국내서 관광객 가장 많은 곳은 '에버랜드'…2위는 '경복궁' |trans-title=The most popular tourist attraction in South Korea is 'Everland'... Second place is 'Gyeongbokgung' |url=https://www.newsis.com/view/NISX20170713_0000040659 |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=Newsis |language=ko}} A 2021 study on 24,008 non–Korean language reviews of South Korean tourist destinations on the travel website Tripadvisor concluded that foreign tourists visited Gyeongbokgung the most out of any tourist attraction in South Korea.{{Cite journal |last1=Jang |first1=Yoonjeung |last2=Jung |first2=Sua |date=March 2021 |script-title=ko:빅데이터를 활용한 외국인 관광객의 국가 그룹별 방문특성 및 유사성 : 트립어드바이저 자료를 중심으로 |trans-title=Characteristics and similarities of the behavior of foreign tourists by nationality using big data : Based on Tripadvisor data |url=https://www.dbpia.co.kr/journal/articleDetail?nodeId=NODE10545682 |journal=관광연구저널 |language=ko |volume=35 |issue=3 |pages=99, 103 |doi=10.21298/IJTHR.2021.3.35.3.95 |issn=1738-3005 |via=DBpia}} According to statistics gathered by the government agency Korea Heritage Service, from 2002 to 2020 and 2022 to 2024, Gyeongbokgung was the most visited palace in Seoul.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-11 |script-title=ko:궁·능·원 및 유적관리소 관람객 현황 |trans-title=Current status of visitors to palaces, tombs, and other historic sites |url=https://kosis.kr/statHtml/statHtml.do?sso=ok&returnurl=https%3A%2F%2Fkosis.kr%3A443%2FstatHtml%2FstatHtml.do%3Fconn_path%3DE1%26list_id%3D150_150002_30_10%26obj_var_id%3D%26seqNo%3D%26tblId%3DTX_15002_A068%26vw_cd%3DMT_ZTITLE%26itm_id%3D%26lang_mode%3Dko%26orgId%3D150%26scrId%3D%26 |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=Korean Statistical Information Service |language=ko}}

In 2010, the palace began opening at night for a number of days each year for visitors. It began as a one-time event for the G-20 Seoul summit, but was made a reoccurring feature after its success. The night openings were highly popular for both foreign and domestic visitors of varying ages, whereas the palaces had mostly appealed to foreigners or elderly domestic visitors before.{{Sfn|Chun|2023|pp=214–216}} From 2016 to 2024, at least 100,000 visitors per year attended a night time viewing.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-11 |script-title=ko:궁 야간 관람객 현황 |trans-title=Status of nighttime visitors to the palace |url=https://kosis.kr/statHtml/statHtml.do?sso=ok&returnurl=https%3A%2F%2Fkosis.kr%3A443%2FstatHtml%2FstatHtml.do%3Fconn_path%3DE1%26list_id%3D150_150002_30_10%26obj_var_id%3D%26seqNo%3D%26tblId%3DDT_150002_A036%26vw_cd%3DMT_ZTITLE%26itm_id%3D%26lang_mode%3Dko%26orgId%3D150%26scrId%3D%26 |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=Korea Statistical Information Service |language=ko}} In 2013, admission began to be made free for visitors that wore hanbok (traditional Korean clothing). This led to significant proliferation of hanbok rental businesses near the palace.{{Sfn|Chun|2023|pp=225–226}} In 2024, 1.8 million visitors to Gyeongbokgung wore hanbok.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-11 |script-title=ko:4대궁 및 종묘 한복 착용 관람객 현황 |trans-title=Status of hanbok-wearing visitors in the Four Grand Palaces and Jongmyo |url=https://kosis.kr/statHtml/statHtml.do?sso=ok&returnurl=https%3A%2F%2Fkosis.kr%3A443%2FstatHtml%2FstatHtml.do%3Fconn_path%3DE1%26list_id%3D150_150002_30_10%26obj_var_id%3D%26seqNo%3D%26tblId%3DDT_150002_B01%26vw_cd%3DMT_ZTITLE%26itm_id%3D%26lang_mode%3Dko%26orgId%3D150%26scrId%3D%26 |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=Korea Statistical Information Service |language=ko}} The palace has since offered a number of experiences for limited numbers of guests, such as dinners of Korean royal court cuisine and performances of traditional music.{{Sfn|Chun|2023|p=229}}

File:비변사계회도.jpg

There are not many surviving depictions of any Korean palaces from before the Imjin War. In both Korea and China around that time, depicting the extravagence of the palace was frowned upon; relishing luxury was seen as inviting the end of the dynasty. Drawings of palaces were often simple diagrams used for illustrative purposes, and not detailed architectural records nor artistic depictions.{{Sfn|Yoon|2018|pp=202–203}} Fourteen simple diagrams of the palace's layout from before the war have survived to the present, although most are presumed to be later copies of earlier drawings.{{Sfn|Hong|2023|p=53}}{{Efn|All have titles with variations of the term Kyŏngbokkungdo ({{Korean|hangul=경복궁도|hanja=景福宮圖|labels=no}}). It is debated when each of them were produced, what information they are based on, what period of the palace's history they are depicting, and how accurate they are.{{sfn|Hong|2023|pp=52, 62}}}} The first known detailed illustration of the palace was the 1506 Hanyang kunggwŏldo ({{Korean|hangul=한양 궁궐도|hanja=漢陽宮闕圖|labels=no}}),{{Sfn|Yoon|2018|pp=202–203}} but it was destroyed during the Imjin War, and copies of it are not known to exist.{{Cite book |date=2011 |publisher=National Institute of Korean History |isbn=9788949908397 |volume=39 |language=ko |script-title=ko:한국문화사 |trans-title=History of Korean Culture |chapter=04. 조선 왕조의 궁궐 |chapter-url=https://contents.history.go.kr/front/km/view.do?levelId=km_039_0070_0040&whereStr=%40where+%7B+IDX_TITLE%28HASALL%7C%27%EC%9E%84%EC%A7%84%EC%99%9C%EB%9E%80%27%7C1000%7C0%29+or+IDX_CONTENT%28HASALL%7C%27%EC%9E%84%EC%A7%84%EC%99%9C%EB%9E%80%27%7C100%7C0%29+or+IDX_ALL%28HASALL%7C%27%EC%9E%84%EC%A7%84%EC%99%9C%EB%9E%80%27%7C1%7C0%29+%7D |via=HistoryNet}} The creator of that painting wrote that their painting was the first of its kind to their knowledge.{{Sfn|Yoon|2018|pp=202–203}} By the late Joseon period, when palaces were depicted artistically, they were often obscured by clouds or shadow, or drawn with little detail.{{Sfn|Yoon|2018|pp=202–203}} The situation began to change in the mid-18th century. Detailed architectural records began to be kept in texts like the Uigwe, and more artistic depictions of palaces emerged.{{Sfn|Yoon|2018|pp=202–203}}

There are three known extant paintings of Yeongjo holding events at the ruins of the palace in the 18th century.{{Sfn|Yoo|2024|p=98}}

{{Ill|Paegakch'unhyo|ko|백악춘효}} is a series of two landscape paintings by An Jung-sik of the palace produced in 1915, during the colonial period.{{Sfn|임석재|2019|pp=48–49}}{{Cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Korean Culture |publisher=Academy of Korean Studies |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0074187 |access-date=2025-03-04 |language=ko |trans-title=Paegakch'unhyodo |author=최경현 |script-title=ko:백악춘효도 (白嶽春曉圖)}} The paintings likely symbolically depict the palace before its colonial-era modifications as an expression of Korean independence activism.{{Cite news |author=김석 |date=2021-03-10 |script-title=ko:왜 조선 화가들은 경복궁을 안 그렸을까? |trans-title=Why didn't Joseon artists depict Gyeongbokgung? |url=https://news.kbs.co.kr/news/pc/view/view.do?ncd=5135379 |access-date=2025-03-03 |work=Korean Broadcasting System |language=ko}} They are designated {{Ill|Registered Cultural Heritage (South Korea)|lt=Registered Cultural Heritages|ko|대한민국의 국가등록문화유산}}.

The 10,000 won note featured an image of Geunjeongjeon on its reverse from 1973 to 1983. From 1983 to 2007, it featured an image of Gyeonghoeru.{{Cite web |script-title=ko:은행권의 변천 |trans-title=Evolution of banknotes |url=https://www.bok.or.kr/portal/main/contents.do?menuNo=200377 |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=Bank of Korea |language=ko}}

{{Portal|South Korea|History|Architecture}}

• Imperial City of Huế
• Forbidden City
• Potala Palace
• Manwoldae

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book |url=https://www.cha.go.kr/cop/bbs/selectBoardArticle.do?nttId=84545&bbsId=BBSMSTR_1021&pageIndex=2&pageUnit=10&searchCnd=tc&searchWrd=%ea%b2%bd%eb%b3%b5%ea%b6%81&ctgryLrcls=&ctgryMdcls=&ctgrySmcls=&ntcStartDt=&ntcEndDt=&searchUseYn=Y&mn=NS_03_08_01 |script-title=ko:경복궁 2차: 복원기본계획 조정용역 |trans-title=Gyeongbokgung No. 2: Basic Restoration Plan |date=December 2020 |publisher=Cultural Heritage Administration Royal Palaces and Tombs Center |language=ko |ref={{SfnRef|Cultural Heritage Administration|2020}}}}
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• {{harvc |author=이강근 |year=2007 |c=창건이후의 변천과정 고찰 |in=Cultural Heritage Administration}}
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• {{harvc |author=배우성 |year=2019 |c=궁궐을 세우기 위해서 철거를 한다고? 영건의 아이러니! |in=Seoul Historiography Institute}}
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• {{Cite journal |last=Yoo |first=Jaebin |date=2024-09-30 |script-title=ko:영조대 경복궁 터에서 행한 행사와 궁중 회화 |trans-title=Royal Ceremonies at Kyŏngbok Palace During the Reign of King Yŏngjo and Their Representations in Court Ceremony Paintings |url=https://www.kjah.org/journal/view.php?number=1929 |journal=Korean Journal of Art History |language=ko |volume=323 |pages=97–128 |doi=10.31065/kjah.323.202409.004 |issn=1225-2565|doi-access=free }}
• {{Cite journal |last=Yoon |first=Min Yong |script-title=ko:조선 후기 한궁도 연구 |trans-title=A Study on Paintings of Han Palace in the Late Joseon Period |url=https://www.kci.go.kr/kciportal/ci/sereArticleSearch/ciSereArtiView.kci?sereArticleSearchBean.artiId=ART002391735 |journal=Korean Journal of Art History |language=ko |volume=299 |year=2018 |issue=299 |pages=199–235 |doi=10.31065/ahak.299.299.201809.008 |access-date=2025-04-09 |via=Korea Citation Index|doi-access=free }}

• {{Cite journal |last=Choi |first=Jong-Deok |date=2010-04-01 |title=The palace, the city and the past: controversies surrounding the rebuilding of the Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, 1990–2010 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02665431003613014 |journal=Planning Perspectives |volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=193–213 |doi=10.1080/02665431003613014 |bibcode=2010PlPer..25..193C |issn=0266-5433}}
• {{Cite journal |last=Chun |first=Kyung Hyo |date=March 2023 |title=Reconstruction of Memory and Reinterpretation of Tradition at Royal Palaces in Seoul |url=https://www.dbpia.co.kr/Journal/articleDetail?nodeId=NODE11228606 |journal=Korea Journal |language=ko |volume=63 |issue=1 |pages=208–242 |issn=0023-3900}}
• {{Cite book |last=Henry |first=Todd A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b1SNAgAAQBAJ |title=Assimilating Seoul: Japanese Rule and the Politics of Public Space in Colonial Korea, 1910–1945 |publisher=Univ of California Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-520-95841-8 |language=en}}
• {{Cite book |last=Kim |first=Jinwung |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s2EVi-MpnUsC |title=A History of Korea: From "Land of the Morning Calm" to States in Conflict |publisher=Indiana University Press |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-253-00024-8 |language=en}}
• {{Cite journal |last=Kim |first=Michael |date=2010-12-01 |title=Collective Memory and Commemorative Space: Reflections on Korean Modernity and the Kyŏngbok Palace Reconstruction 1865–2010 |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/223386591001300404 |journal=International Area Review |language=en |volume=13 |issue=4 |pages=75–95 |doi=10.1177/223386591001300404 |issn=1226-7031}}
• {{Cite book |last=Shin |first=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lx9WDwAAQBAJ |title=Korean National Identity under Japanese Colonial Rule: Yi Gwangsu and the March First Movement of 1919 |date=2018-04-17 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-83064-0 |language=en}}

• {{Commons and category inline|Gyeongbokgung|Gyeongbokgung}}
• {{Official website|royal.cha.go.kr/ENG/contents/E101010000.do}} (in English)

{{Five Grand Palaces (Joseon)}}

{{Seoul landmarks}}

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Category:Palaces in Seoul

Category:Historic buildings and structures in Seoul

Category:Historic house museums in Asia

Category:History of Seoul

Category:Buildings and structures in Jongno District

Category:Downtown Seoul

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Category:Rebuilt buildings and structures in South Korea

Category:Royal residences in South Korea

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Joseon Industrial

Category:National symbols of Korea

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Category:Historic Sites of South Korea

Category:Palaces of Joseon