This time, I am writing a brief review of my visit to Gyeonghuigung Palace, one of the five grand palaces. As the most heavily damaged among them, I found that very few buildings actually remain. It felt desolate. Perhaps for that reason, it has the lowest Google reviews of all five palaces.
The post is organized as follows:
Heunghwamun – Sungjeongmun – Sungjeongjeon – Jajeongmun – Jajeongjeon – Taeryeongjeon – Taeryeongmun (Rear) – Seoam.
Also, unlike the other four palaces, admission to Gyeonghuigung is free.
Heunghwamun Gate (흥화문)
Heunghwamun Gate
Heunghwamun Gate is the main entrance to Gyeonghuigung. It was moved to its current location rather than being restored to its original site. Perhaps for this reason, unlike other palaces, there are no walls surrounding the gate.
Sungjeongmun Gate (숭정문)
Sungjeongmun Gate
After passing through Heunghwamun Gate, the next sight you see is Sungjeongmun Gate, as shown in the three photos above. Unlike Seoul's other palaces, this gate is situated on a steep incline, requiring visitors to climb a set of stairs to enter. It felt like a moment to catch my breath—or perhaps lose it—before ascending to the king’s quarters. Beyond this gate, the main hall, Sungjeongjeon, immediately comes into view.
Sungjeongjeon Hall (숭정전)
Rank stones in front of Sungjeongjeon Hall
The photo above shows Sungjeongjeon Hall. In the courtyard, just like at other palaces in Seoul, rank stones (Pumgyeseok) are neatly arranged. Although there are far fewer buildings here than at other palaces, this one is particularly impressive. Since it is situated on a slope, the surrounding walls follow the incline of the hillside, making the hall look even more grand.
Sungjeongjeon Hall
Interior of Sungjeongjeon Hall and Throne
The interior of Sungjeongjeon Hall is similar to those of other palaces, with a throne situated in the center. This hall was where the king and his officials gathered to hold major national events.
Rear side of Sungjeongjeon Hall
Jajeongmun Gate & Jajeongjeon Hall (자정문 & 자정전)
Jajeongmun Gate
To reach Jajeongjeon Hall, you must pass through Jajeongmun Gate (pictured above), which connects Sungjeongjeon and Jajeongjeon. Like Sungjeongmun, it is also situated on a slight incline, requiring visitors to climb a set of stairs.
Jajeongjeon Hall
Jajeongjeon Hall is where the king conducted daily business with his officials. If Sungjeongjeon Hall serves the same role as Geunjeongjeon Hall in Gyeongbokgung, then Jajeongjeon in Gyeonghuigung is the equivalent of Sajeongjeon in Gyeongbokgung.
Interior of Jajeongjeon Hall
However, as seen above, the interior of Jajeongjeon is completely empty. Not only are there few buildings remaining in the palace, but the inside of this hall—which once served as the king's office—is also quite desolate.
Rear side of Jajeongjeon Hall
Just as other palaces, the back walls here were also planted with greenery in this manner.
Taeryongjeon Hall (태령전)
Actually, I left Gyeonghuigung right after touring Jajeongjeon that day. However, after learning that a building called Taeryeongjeon was located to the left of Jajeongjeon, I returned two days later and headed straight there. The passage to Taeryeongjeon Hall is tucked away in the far left corner of the Jajeongjeon entrance, so it's easy to miss on a quiet weekday. On my first visit, there was almost no one around, but on the weekend I returned, the crowds made the way easy to find—though Taeryeongjeon itself was also quite crowded.
Taeryongjeon Hall
It is said that King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty used Taeryeongjeon Hall to hold funeral rites for King Yeongjo. Perhaps because of that, a portrait of King Yeongjo hangs inside, as seen in the photo below.
Portrait of King Yeongjo
Taeryongmun Gate (in front of Taeryongjeon Hall)
In front of Taeryeongjeon, you can see the back of Taeryeongmun Gate. The gate was locked, and with nothing but an empty space in front of it, there was no way to access the front of the gate at the time of my visit. Unless the surrounding area is restored in the future, it will likely remain that way.
Seoam Rocks (서암)
Behind Taeryeongjeon, you can see a flower garden alongside some rock formations. Although you actually see them before reaching the hall—since the tour path enters from the right, bringing the rocks into view first—they are structurally located behind the building, so I have included them at the end of this post.
Seoam Rocks
As seen in the photo above, the ground itself consists of natural rock, which is reportedly called Seoam. This feature clearly shows how the original rock formations were left intact rather than being carved away during construction.
Location
