Now In Korea
Kyunghee Palace: Traces of a Lost Joseon Residence and Where to Visit on Your Way Out
Creatrip Team
a month ago
A visit to Kyunghee Palace (경희궁), the least-preserved of Seoul’s five major Joseon palaces, reveals a fragmented history shaped by demolition, reuse, and partial restoration. Once called the “west palace” (서궐) opposite the eastern palaces, much of Kyunghee’s original complex survives only in paintings and relocated buildings. Only five original structures remain in name: Heunghwamun (main gate), Sunghjeongmun (gate to the main hall), Sunghjeongjeon (main hall), Jajeongjeon (a bedchamber hall), and Taeryeongjeon (a royal portrait hall). Over time the site was repurposed — parts were moved to places like Dongguk University and Sajik Park, the main gate was used by a hotel, and during Japanese colonial rule the palace grounds hosted schools and even an air-raid shelter built in 1944. Restoration began in 1987, yet much of the site feels like a city park with broad lawns where buildings once stood; some key structures remain under repair. Visiting Sunghjeongjeon’s restored area evokes the palace’s role in royal ceremonies and political turmoil, while nearby remnants (including a heavy concrete wartime bunker) tell stories of modern Korea’s upheavals. For visitors, Kyunghee Palace offers a poignant walk through layers of Joseon royal history, colonial injury, and ongoing efforts at cultural recovery.
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