Geunjeongjeon Hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace

Geunjeongjeon Hall is the central building of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the principal palace of Joseon, where officials offered New Year greetings to the king, state ceremonies were held and foreign envoys received. It was built in 1395, the fourth year of King Taejo, and several early Joseon kings, among them Jeongjong and Sejong, were enthroned here. The name Geunjeong, 'diligent government', means that the affairs of the realm are well ordered through diligence; Jeong Do-jeon chose it. The present building was rebuilt in 1867, the fourth year of Emperor Gojong, after the original burned in the Imjin War. It is a two-storey building five bays wide and five deep, with a hipped-and-gabled roof. It is of the multi-bracket type, with bracket sets not only on the columns but between them, and its form is splendid. The corners of the stone terraces on which it stands and the railing posts round the stairs are carved with great skill with the twelve zodiac animals and other creatures. Inside, the space is open through both storeys, with the royal throne at the centre of the back. Behind the throne stands a screen of the sun, moon and five peaks, and above it rich ornament. Along the path from the hall to Geunjeongmun Gate, rank stones marking the places of civil and military officials stand in order, and the rings for awnings used against the sun remain in the forecourt. Corridors join Geunjeongmun and surround the hall. Refining techniques that had been losing their finesse since mid-Joseon, Geunjeongjeon is a grand work of palace architecture with all the dignity of a royal seat.

AI Translation

Visiting

Opening hours

November-February 09:00-17:00 (Last admission 16:00) March-May & September-October 09:00-18:00 (Last admission 17:00) June-August 09:00-18:30 (Last admission 17:30)

Closed

Tuesdays (If Tuesday falls on a public holiday, it will be closed on the following business day instead)

Parking

Available

Information

+82-2-3700-3900

Visitor information: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1

Where it is

Region

Jongno-gu, Seoul

Designation

National Treasure · 국보