[Eye Plus] Seoul's smallest palace shows less can be more

One of the five grand palaces built during the 1392-1897 Joseon dynasty, Gyeonghuigung Palace, which means “Palace of Joy and Light,” is the least well-known and smallest of the palaces in Seoul.

But the historic significance of the palace located west of the main palace of Gyeongbokgung equals that of its better known counterparts. 

The palace, which was built during the reign of Gwanghaegun, the 15th king of Joseon, was completed in 1620 and served as a secondary palace for more than 10 Joseon kings.

In its heyday, the palace boasted some 190 buildings and gates and its main gate Heunghwamun Gate – the vast scale that can only be seen in the painting Seogwoldoan from the latter half of the Joseon dynasty. 

Much of the palace, however, was destroyed during Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea.
After restoration work, the palace reopened to the public in 2002, providing a much-needed oasis for those living and working at the heart of the nation’s capital filled with high-rise buildings.

The Seoul Museum of History is situated next to the palace, offering chances for visitors to learn about how Seoul has evolved. The Gyeonghuigung Annex Building of the Seoul Museum of Art is also on the palace site. 

The palace is open from Tuesday to Sunday, except for Jan. 1. It is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from March to October, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November to February. Admission is free. 

Written by Ock Hyun-ju
Photographed by Park Hyun-koo