There are a handful of 500-600 year old palaces that dot central Seoul and of them the most popular is Gyeongbukgong. However you are pronouncing that in your head is not the way to pronounce it as we learned from the taxi driver that took us there.
Gyeongbung was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. It was built in 1395 and is the largest of the Five Grand Palaces built by the dynasty.
Out front you’re greeted by the guards!
The outfits looked comfortable but it was so c-c-c-c-old that I wondered how they could stay there without freezing.
Once inside you’re presented with a giant square around which were low buildings leading up to the palace.
It was surprising, however, how little has been done around beautifying the grounds surrounding the palaces. Pretty much just dirt grounds. Overall a bit disappointing as a cultural experience – certainly not anywhere near what you experience in a place like Kyoto.
The stop was totally worth it when we ran i to these adorable girls dressed up in traditional Korean dresses called “hanbok”.
They were so much fun! And when they learned we were from Chicago they squealed with delight as they all hope to visit there soon.
