Overview
Gyeongbokgung was built in 1395 as the main palace of the Joseon dynasty, three years after Yi Seong-gye founded the dynasty and moved the capital to Hanyang, present-day Seoul. It served as the seat of the kings and the symbolic center of the new state.
Description
The palace is laid out around the throne hall Geunjeongjeon, shown in the image, where coronations and state ceremonies were held. Among its landmarks is Gyeonghoeru, a grand banquet pavilion rising over an artificial lake.
History and legacy
The palace burned down during the Imjin War in 1592 and lay in ruins for nearly three centuries, until the regent Heungseon Daewongun rebuilt it on a grand scale in 1867. Much of the complex was demolished during Japanese colonial rule, and systematic restoration has continued since the 1990s. Today it is the most visited of Seoul’s palaces.