Today our guide from O'ngo Tours (http://www.ongofood.com/private-tours/ ) is Aaron. He picked us up in his Kia van from Fraser Suites for our first full-day tour of Seoul.
We started our day with a visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is a royal palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. We can see it from our balcony of our 20th floor apartment. Still nothing could have prepared us for the up close viewing of this remarkable palace.
First constructed in 1395, later burned and abandoned for almost three
centuries, and then reconstructed in 1867, it was the main and largest palace
of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty. The name means
"Palace" [Gung] "Greatly Blessed by Heaven" [Gyeongbok]. In the early 20th century, much of the palace was destroyed
by Imperial Japan. Since then, the walled palace complex has been gradually
restored back to its original form. As of 2009, roughly 40% of the original
number of palace buildings still stand or have been reconstructed.
At the back of the palace compound (outside the North gate) sits the Blue House. It is the Korean President's home (FYI - Korea has its first female President) and executive buildings.
Image of Palace Compound
Main Gate
Royal Gate
Close up - Royal Gate
King's Throne Room
King's Throne
Architecture feature
King's Retreat
King's Quarters
Queen's Quarters
Roof details
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