Changgyeonggung Palace

The Royal Grounds

One of my personal favorite palaces is Changgyeonggung, which is in the image above. This palace was built in 1418 by King Sejong for his father, King Taejong, who abdicated the throne for him. This palace was mainly used as living quarters for the king and his family. Unfortunately, this palace was destroyed by the Japanese invasion in 1592 and was rebuilt in 1616. The Japanese degraded this palace into a park and zoo during the colonial period, but later on regained its access, and the name was restored in 1983. Restoration efforts have gone into this palace to return it to the Korean royal grounds it once was, and is now what you see in the picture above today.

Walking through the palace makes you feel like a royal yourself. This palace is colorfully painted just like how it was in the 1400s. It's hard to imagine that something this beautiful was created so long ago. How did they have the materials and the ultra-detailed painting tools to cover these palaces with designs? From the old buildings, the cobblestone that lines the entrance road to enter, just imagine the kings and queens that have walked those exact steps. It is truly an honor to be able to experience the beauties of Korea just like this one.