South Korea has a lot of very important cultural landmarks. The majority is located in the capital of the Republic of Korea, Seoul. All five Royal Palaces of Joseon are located in Seoul and hold high cultural significance and serve as popular tourist attractions. These palaces feature a throne hall, a royal council hall, sleeping quarters, the prince’s residence, and a garden. The construction features wood, a tilted roof, and pillars with colored paintings (“The 5 Palaces of Seoul.”, 2012).
The Gyeongbokgung Palace was built in 1395 as the main royal palace. It was burnt down during the Japanese invasion in 1592, but built back up in 1867, just to be destroyed again around 50 years later. It was renovated in the 1990s and now serves as the National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum. (“Historical Heritage of Seoul.”) The Changdeok Palace was built in 1405 and also burnt down during the Japanese invasion. However, it was restored in 1609 and became the new state palace. Its garden was named UNESCO World Heritage in 1997. The Changgyeong Palace was built in 1483. During the Japanese invasion a zoo, botanical garden, and museum were added, but these features were taken down after the restoration of the palace in 1984. The Gyeonghui Palace was built in 1623 as a royal villa, rather than an official government building. Lastly, the Deoksu Palace was originally called the Gyeongun Palace, but was renamed by the Emperor Gojong in 1907. This palace differs from the other palaces because it incorporates both traditional wooden Korean, as well as Western features (“The 5 Palaces of Seoul.”, 2012).
“Historical Heritage of Seoul.” Historical Heritage of Seoul : Korea.net : The Official Website of the Republic of Korea, www.korea.net/AboutKorea/Tourism/Historical-Heritage-Seoul.
“The 5 Palaces of Seoul.” The Chosun Ilbo (English Edition): Daily News from Korea, 24 Jan. 2012, english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/01/24/2012012400190.html.
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