A Night to Remember at Gyeongbokgung Palace

If you’ve been following along with our adventures, you might recall that we have visited Gyeongbokgung Palace twice already: once in the summer and then in the fall. Well, the third time may be the charm! We visited in December for a special nighttime, winter walk.

Thanks to one of Peter’s SNU colleagues, we learned that Gyeongbokgung is open several times a year at night. We were told that Koreans often have to book tickets for these evenings months in advance, but luckily for us a certain number of tickets are set aside for foreigners to purchase on-site. We presented our Alien Registration Cards at the gate and were allowed to buy tickets for that evening, a narrow window as the nighttime openings last only about two hours.

Gyeongbokgung, the largest of Seoul’s historic palaces, once was the center of government in Seoul and housed the royal family and court. Originally built in 1395 during the Joseon Dynasty, it was destroyed by fire in the 16^th century and then rebuilt late in the 19^th century.

Gyeongbokgung’s grounds are extensive, and only a small area is open for night visits. However, it was really magical to stroll around the grounds with the lanterns glowing, and the buildings lit up from the inside. I found myself more easily imagining real people living and working in these buildings centuries ago.

Some of the artistic details were easier to see when highlighted at night. We must have seen this piece of art at some point during the day but didn’t really remember it. The colors make a much stronger impression when seen glowing out of the surrounding darkness. This painted folding screen is called Irworobongdo and is one of the most important features of Korean royal throne rooms. The sun and moon symbolize the king and queen, set over mythical mountain peaks representing Joseon-era Korea.

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Of course, the modern asthetic is never far away when you are in Seoul! Just over the palace walls are ever-present reminders of the bustling city.

Though we were reluctant to leave the relative peace of the palace grounds, we found a quiet stroll at Cheongyecheon stream off of Gwanghwamun Square. The city forewent the usual Christmas decorations at the stream this year, but there were plenty of city lights to cheer our walk home.

We wish you all a safe and happy New Year! You can see more of Gyeongbokgung Palace at night by visiting our Flickr album.