This photo provided by the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the Korea Heritage Service shows Jangandang, the executive office of King Gojong of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), located within Geoncheonggung at Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul.
SEOUL, Oct. 6 (Korea Bizwire) — Two secluded sites within Gyeongbok Palace — the heart of Seoul’s royal heritage and one of its most visited landmarks — will open to the public for a limited time this month, offering a rare glimpse into spaces usually closed for preservation.
The Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the Korea Heritage Service said it will host special guided tours from October 15 to 31, allowing visitors to step inside Geoncheonggung and Hyangwonjeong, both located deep within the palace’s inner compound.
This photo provided by the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the Korea Heritage Service shows Geoncheonggung, the residence of King Gojong, at Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul.
Built in 1873 during the reign of King Gojong, Geoncheonggung was once the royal couple’s private residence — and the backdrop to one of the darkest moments in Korean history: the assassination of Queen Myeongseong by Japanese agents in 1895. It also holds technological significance as the first site in Korea to be illuminated by electric lights in 1887, a symbol of the country’s early modernization efforts.
Following Japan’s colonial annexation, the residence was dismantled around 1909 and remained lost for nearly a century before being meticulously restored in 2007.
This photo provided by the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the Korea Heritage Service shows Hyangwonjeong, a late Joseon-era pavilion built on an artificial pond, at Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul.
Nearby, Hyangwonjeong Pavilion, built atop an artificial pond in the late 19th century, served as a serene retreat for the royal family. Its hexagonal structure, linked by the iconic Chwihyanggyo Bridge, remains one of the most photographed scenes in Gyeongbok Palace — a poetic blend of symmetry and still water.
Access to both sites will be strictly controlled, and visitors must reserve tickets in advance through the official site, nol.interpark.com, no later than one day before their visit.
This photo provided by the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the Korea Heritage Service shows Hyangwonjeong, a late Joseon-era pavilion built on an artificial pond, at Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul.
For most Koreans and international travelers, it will be a fleeting chance to walk the same halls that witnessed the twilight of the Joseon Dynasty — before the palace doors close once again.
Image credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
