Gyeongbokgung Palace Deep History Tour - Expert Guide & National Folk Museum

Gyeongbokgung Palace in Depth with an Expert Guide

Begin your tour at Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung, and its elevated platform (Wolde). Learn about the history of the restored Wolde and Gwanghwamun, and understand how Gyeongbokgung regained its current appearance after being damaged during the Japanese colonial period.

Enter the palace grounds, cross Geumcheon Stream and Yeongjegyo Bridge, and proceed to the central area of the Joseon royal court. Examine the stone guardians around the bridge and the symbolic objects placed throughout the palace. Move beyond simply admiring the beautiful architecture to understand the meaning embedded in each space.


Spaces Where the King Governed and the Royal Family Lived

At Geunjeongjeon, where important national ceremonies were held, explore how the palace's central spaces were designed. Then, tour the Sajeongjeon area, where the king conducted daily state affairs, and hear stories about Joseon's politics and the king's role.

From Gangnyeongjeon, the king's living quarters, to Gyotaejeon, the queen's residence, shift your focus to the daily life of the royal family. By examining the structure and decoration of the buildings, you can learn how Confucian order and the lifestyle of the people at the time were reflected in the palace spaces.


From Gyeonghoeru to the National Folk Museum

At Gyeonghoeru, built on a pond, admire the beauty of Gyeongbokgung where the surrounding landscape and architecture blend seamlessly. Afterward, move to Geoncheonggung to encounter traces of modernization in the late Joseon Dynasty and stories of a turbulent era, including the assassination of Empress Myeongseong.

Finally, visit the National Folk Museum to explore the lives of ordinary people outside the royal court. Through seasonal foods, clothing, traditional housing and ondol culture, and major life rituals, you can gain a more three-dimensional understanding of the lives of people in the Joseon Dynasty.

Main Course:
Gwanghwamun & Wolde → Yeongjegyo → Geunjeongjeon → Sajeongjeon Area → Gangnyeongjeon → Gyotaejeon → Gyeonghoeru → Geoncheonggung → National Folk Museum