Description
I never took cosplaying seriously but at the Gyeongbokgung Palace we HAD to give this a shot. It was so fun running around like we were main characters in a K-Drama.
Did you know when you’re travelling to this Korean Palace: Gyeongbokgung (경복궁 景福宮), which poetically translates to the "Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven," was the ultimate power move of the Joseon Dynasty. As the first and largest of the Five Grand Palaces, it served as the main royal residence and the heart of the Korean government for centuries.
There is an ancient underfloor heating system that channeled smoke and heat from kitchen fires beneath the rooms, ensuring the king stayed cozy during Korea's notoriously biting winters. If you notice some grumpy-looking stone statues guarding the entrance, you’re looking at the Haetae. These mythical, lion-like creatures were the palace’s spiritual fire department, believed to protect the wooden structures by "eating" fire and warding off disasters. While the palace has survived centuries of drama, including being burned to the ground in the 1590s and left in ruins for nearly 300 years, painstaking restoration efforts have returned it to its former glory.
As a fun perk for modern visitors, anyone who arrives wearing a traditional hanbok gets to enter the palace grounds for free!