Palace in harmony with nature

Huwon Garden at Changdeokgung Palace

©Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Cultural Heritage Administration

Changdeokgung Palace is the only royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty that was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. When constructing Changdeokgung, typical Korean palace architecture was creatively modified to respect and accept the natural landscape. As a result, the palace boasts a superb beauty that is in harmony with its surroundings. Its Huwon Garden (a.k.a Secret Garden) is a great representation of traditional Korean gardens, which preserved nature (e.g., streams, hills, etc.) as is.

The uphill path from the palace to the garden is pleasantly shaded by trees, and will raise your expectations of the space that will unfold ahead. Once you reach the hilltop, a small downhill trail on the left leads to a large beautiful garden harmoniously blending with the landscape.

©Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Cultural Heritage Administration
©Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Cultural Heritage Administration

The uphill path from the palace to the garden is pleasantly shaded by trees, and will raise your expectations of the space that will unfold ahead. Once you reach the hilltop, a small downhill trail on the left leads to a large beautiful garden harmoniously blending with the landscape.

©Photo(Ki joo Park)-KTO

Buyongji is a square pond within the garden. This beautiful pond with a round islet was designed reflecting the idea of cheonwonjibang (the sky is round, and the earth is square). The pond is surrounded by long rectangular stones, and the stone fish statue on the southern corner of the pond resembles a carp jumping out of the water. The fish and water were meant to symbolize the relationship between the king and the servants. Buyongjeong Pavilion is located south of Buyongji Pond with two of its pillars in the pond, as if it were sitting on the edge of the pond dipping its two feet. The roof facing the side of the pond is supported by double-tiered brackets (gongpo1). Although they may seem small, they were made to fit the pavilion’s size.

©Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Cultural Heritage Administration

In general, most palace architecture decorations are proportional to the size of the building. Sitting north of Buyongji Pond, Juhapnu is a two-story royal library (juhap means “united with the universe”). Due to the sloping terrain, the library has a stairway made of hwagye2 and chwibyeong3, which creates great harmony with nature. In particular, the reading room on the second floor overlooks the time-honored beautiful forest surrounding the area as well as Buyongji Pond and Buyongjeong Pavilion.

©Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Cultural Heritage Administration
TIP
The Moonlight Tour (www.chf.or.kr) at Changdeokgung Palace is held every spring and fall. Visitors can see the traditional beauty of Korea while also enjoying the nightscape.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
• Changgyeonggung Palace
• Jongmyo Shrine
• Bukchon Hanok Village
• Insa-dong
Address
99 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Way
10-min walk from Exit 6 of Jongno 3-ga Station, Subway Line 1, 3 or 5; or 5-min walk from Exit 3 of Anguk Station, Subway Line 3
Tel
02-3668-2300
Admission
3,000원
Website
www.cdg.go.kr
Time
Feb–May 09:00–18:00; June–Aug 09:00–18:30; Sept–Oct 09:00–18:00; Nov–Jan 09:00–17:30 (Closed on Mondays);
Palace Tours 10:15 & 13:15; Huwon (Secret)
Garden Tours 10:30, 11:30, 14:30 & 15:30
Palace Tours
10:15 & 13:15;
Huwon (Secret) Garden
10:30, 11:30, 14:30 & 15:30
Dignity and respect of a royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty

Gyeongbokgung Palace

©Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Cultural Heritage Administration

Gyeongbokgung Palace was the first royal palace built during the Joseon Dynasty, which had lasted for more than 500 years since its foundation in 1392. The royal palace faces Bugaksan Mountain on the north and exudes more solemnity and grace than any other royal palace of Joseon. This is due to its unique layout where Gyotaejeon Hall (queen’s quarters), Gangnyeongjeon Hall (king’s quarters), Sajeongjeon Hall (king’s office), Geunjeongjeon Hall (the main and central building), Geunjeongmun Gate (the main gate of Geunjeongjeon), Heungnyemun Gate (the inner gate of the royal palace), and Gwanghwamun Gate (the main gate of the palace) all stand in a line. The name Gyeongbokgung (literally “greatly blessed palace”) was given by King Taejo, the first king of the Dynasty, with the hope that his nation would greatly prosper.

©Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Cultural Heritage Administration
©Photo(Ji Ho Kim)-KTO

Geunjeongjeon Hall is the largest wooden structure in Korea. It served as the venue for major national events, including coronation ceremonies. The majestic two-story wooden building sitting on a three-tiered stone foundation, and the elegant tiled roof resembling wide-spread wings create magnificent harmony with Bugaksan and Inwangsan Mountains. In addition, the stone animal statues erected on the stone railing that surrounds the stone foundation, add an amiable and cozy ambience to the majestic building. Meanwhile, the entire front courtyard is paved with flat stones, each smoothened by stonemasons. These stones prevent sun glare, and the gaps between the stones naturally absorb rainwater. Plus, these stones emphasize the sophisticated ambiance of Geunjeongjeon Hall.

©Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Cultural Heritage Administration

Sitting west of Geunjeongjeon Hall, Gyeonghoeru Pavilion is the epitome of Gyeongbokgung’s architecture. Located in the middle of a square pond, Gyeonghoeru consists of a lofted wooden floor supported by 48 stone pillars standing on a stone foundation. Gyeonghoeru is the largest pavilion in Korea that can accommodate up to 1,200 guests. The image of this grand pavilion reflected on the pond is often considered one of the most outstanding images portraying the beauty of traditional Korean palatial architecture.

©Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Cultural Heritage Administration
TIP
Admission to Gyeongbokgung Palace is free if you wear a hanbok (traditional Korean clothing). There are several hanbok rental shops near the palace.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
• Seochon Village
• Tongin Market
• Cheongwadae Sarangchae
• National Folk Museum of Korea
Address
161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Way
5-min walk from Exit 4 of Gyeongbokgung Station, Subway Line 3
Tel
02-3700-3900
Admission
3,000won
Website
www.royalpalace.go.kr
Time
Nov–Feb 09:00–17:00; Mar–May 09:00–18:00; June–Aug 09:00–18:30; Sept–Oct 09:00–18:00 (Closed on Tuesdays)
Space that has become the root and symbol of the Joseon Dynasty

Jongmyo Shrine

©Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Cultural Heritage Administration

The Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910) lasted for 519 years and was ruled by 27 kings from Taejo to Sunjong. Jongmyo enshrines the ancestral tablets of kings and queens of Joseon. In the past, kings regularly held rituals along with civil and military officials to pray for the security of the country and safety of its people. Jeongjeon Hall, the main building of the Shrine, is the world’s longest single wooden structure at 101 meters long. Dubbed “Asia’s Parthenon” among overseas architects, Jeongjeon Hall is at the top of the must-visit list of Korean architectural tours. Frank Gehry, who designed the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, said “it’s hard to find such an impressive space as this one,” in an interview related to Jongmyo.

©Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Cultural Heritage Administration
©Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Cultural Heritage Administration

The long, simple, and refined façade created by the uniquely designed roof and pillars lining up the length of the structure, create a solemn atmosphere. In particular, the steep sloping roof consists of straight lines, unlike the typical curved roofs in traditional Korean architecture. This unique structure casts a shadow on the front courtyard, adding to the solemn ambience. A long line of pillars that support the roof and the extended corridor, called “wollang,” also highlight the glorious atmosphere. Unlike typical pillars found in royal palaces of Joseon that are highly decorated and painted in dancheong (traditional Korean decorative coloring) patterns, the pillars of Jeongjeon Hall are simple without any decorations. This was to emphasize that the Hall was meant to be a sacred place for the spirits of the diseased.

©Photo(IR Studio)-KTO

Upon entering Jongmyo Shrine, you will first face Jeongjeon Hall, but the actual center of the entire architectural space is the Woldae. This is an elevated stone platform (109m x 69m x 1m) in front of Jeongjeon that serves as the venue for the Jongmyo Jerye4, whereby the spirits of late kings and queens are summoned to meet with the living.

©Photo(Ji Ho Kim)-KTO
TIP
On the first Sunday of May, visitors can see Jongmyo Jerye, the royal ancestral ritual and its music at Jongmyo Shrine.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
• Insa-dong
• Gwangjang Market
Address
157 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Way
5-min walk from Exit 11 of Jongno 3-ga Station, Subway Line 1, 3 or 5
Tel
02-765-0195
Admission
1,000won
Website
jm.cha.go.kr
Time
Feb–May & Sept–Oct 09:00–18:00;
June–Aug 09:00–18:30;
Nov–Jan 09:00–17:30 (Closed on Tuesdays)
Writer by yun sin-yong | Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Cultural Heritage Administration / KTO
Client KTO | Production D.gram(Korean Architecture Tour) ⓒdgram.co.kr All Rights Reserved.
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