Hello everyone~

I recently went to the Jongno area. Because it was the Chuseok holiday, Gyeongbokgung Palace was open for free. So I took a tour. Have you guys been to Gyeongbokgung Palace?

1️⃣ Gwanghwamun Square

I saw a large banner near the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, in front of the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, on the Jongno side of Gwanghwamun Square. It was so moving that I took a photo. It read, "Strange, but being alive is a truly precariously beautiful thing." I learned that this banner was one of the winning entries in the 2025 Cultural Plaza Design Competition, part of a citizen-participatory project to add art and sensibility to various parts of downtown Seoul.

2️⃣ Introduction to Gyeongbokgung Palace

As I was walking, I arrived at Gyeongbokgung Palace. Gyeongbokgung Palace was the central palace of the Joseon Dynasty, or the main palace. The name "Gyeongbok (景福)" is said to mean "be blessed with great fortune and prosperity." It was built in 1395 and has been damaged and restored several times since, including during the Imjin War. During the Japanese colonial period, many buildings were demolished or damaged while building the Government-General of Korea. Restoration work began in earnest in the 1990s. Gyeongbokgung Palace contains several buildings, including Geunjeongjeon Hall, where the king administered state affairs; Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, where royal ceremonies and banquets were held; and the queen's bedroom. It was larger than I expected, so it took quite a while to see everything.

3️⃣ Gyeongbokgung Palace is free during the Chuseok holiday.

During the Chuseok holiday period (October 3rd - October 9th), the four grand palaces of Seoul (Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, and Changgyeonggung), Jongmyo Shrine, and the Joseon Royal Tombs were open to the public for free! Since the day I went was right during the Chuseok holiday period, admission was free. There were more people than I expected. Also, during this period, Gyeongbokgung Palace held the Changing of the Guard Ceremony, the Royal Guard Patrol Ceremony, and the Gwanghwamun Guard Ceremony. Afterward, I took pictures with many tourists.

Do you guys like Gyeongbokgung Palace?

Have a nice day~