경복궁 건청궁

Mugunghwa Hill This guide is recorded by the voice of Mr. Kim Young-ha. In the southern half of the Korean Peninsula that was celebrating the Liberation, the democratic government of the Republic of Korea was established, and key government positions, most notably the president, were elected. Now, the president, one who represents our country, needed a place to stay so Gyeongmudae” located behind Gyeongbokgung Palace was chosen. Since Taejo of Joseon built Gyeongbokgung, the area north of the palace housed different buildings over time. It was used as a governmental residence during the Japanese colonial period. After Liberation, the commander of the U.S. Forces used it as his official residence during the U.S. military government period. Once the Republic of Korea government was established, President Rhee Syngman began to use the building as both the presidential office and his official residence and named it Gyeongmudae”, which is a combination of Gyeong” from Gyeongbokgung and “Mu” from Sinmumun Gate. But, as Rhee's dictatorship dragged on, Gyeongmudae came to stand for dictatorship. Mr. Yun Posun, the second president of Korea, thought of a new name that does away with the image of dictatorship and, considering that the roof tiles of the building are blue, changed the name to “Cheongwadae”. Since then, a variety of structures were built near Cheongwadae for its management. Because it is located right next to Cheongwadae, public access to Mugunghwa Hill was prohibited for a long period of time. There was also a safe house called “Anga” here, to which the president could evacuate to in case of emergency during the military dictatorship. Then, in February 1993, Mr. Kim Young-sam who had just become the 14th president through a democratic vote for the first in the country’s history ordered the safe house to be torn down and a park open to the public to be built in its place. The stone sign standing at the entrance of Mugunghwa Hill says, “We hope that this park, which is opened with the advent of a new age of the people, will be loved as a resting place for those who visit Cheongwadae and as a classroom of history to reflect on the long and arduous road we have endured to democracy.” A space that had been kept hidden at the heart of where the Korean government stood has been returned to the hands of the people, the owners of this country, as a symbol of the changed times. When you visit Mugunghwa Hill during the summer, you will be able to see beautiful Roses of Sharon in full bloom. Today, Mugunghwa Hill in full bloom is a place that anyone can visit any time. In the center of the park, there is a signboard that explains various types of Roses of Sharon; Though the colors vary from white to pink to crimson, they all commonly have 5 pointy edges to the calyx, and flowers only bloom from newly grown leaves. The flower blooms well anywhere on the Korean Peninsula, and it often seen as a symbol of pride that we the people of Republic of Korea have over having overcomed difficult times.

Located in the northern neighborhood of Seoul in Korea, known as Jongno-gu, Gyeongbokgung Palace is also known as the Northern Palace. King Taejo (Yi Seong-gye), the first monarch of the Joseon Dynasty, commissioned its construction. By naming the palace with meaning of may the king be blessed with longevity and eternal prosperity, Jeong Do-jeon, who made significant contributions to King Taejo's establishment of the dynasty, showed his gratitude. Gyeongbokgung Palace took the longest to complete, but it was well worth the wait. It took more than 30 years to complete because of the constant alterations to the scale and appearance, even though it had started out with only essential buildings. After all, the palace shared the Joseon Dynasty's trials and tribulations. It suffered extensive damage during the 1592 Japanese invasion of Korea and then laid in disrepair for nearly three centuries. It wasn't completely restored until 1865, during the reign of Emperor Gojong. As a result of the Eulmi Incident, Emperor Gojong was forced to flee the palace, and for a time, it stood empty and unused. The Joseon Government General building was constructed within the palace during the time of Japanese colonial rule. Therefore, although most of the buildings had lost their original appearance, the dignity of the palace was restored by the ongoing restoration project. The three main buildings of Gyeongbokgung Palace—the Gwanghwamun Gate, the King's living quarters (Gangnyeongjeon Hall), and the Queen's living quarters (Gyotaejeon Hall)—form a straight line from one another. The Eodo was the name given to the broad and symmetrical path that connected Gwanghwamun Gate and Gyotaejeon Hall, which was reserved for the king's exclusive use. The path had done an excellent job of reflecting the majesty of the king. The other structures, aside from the main ones, were purposefully built asymmetrically to emphasize both diversity and cohesion. Shall we feel and experience the elegant royal culture and history of the Joseon Dynasty by taking a look at every corner of Gyeogbokgung Palace? It is also greatly recommended to watch the Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony and visit the special admission of Gyeonghoeru Pavilion.

Sajeongjeon Hall is the council hall located behind Geunjeongjeon Hall. It was one of the two most important office buildings in Gyeongbokgung Palace; the other was the Throne Hall, Geunjeongjeon Hall. King Sejong, King Sejo, and King Jungjong were said to use this hall the most frequently. Here, emperors regularly conferred with their officials and made important policy decisions. They also hosted banquets for visiting dignitaries and loyal retainers. Sajeongjeon Hall, whose name means political contemplation, is where the king is believed to have reflected on matters of state. Sajeongjeon Hall was first built at the same time as Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1395. It was rebuilt after it was burnt down in 1553. After around 40 years, the entire palace was demolished in the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592, which lasted for 7 years. The current building was built in 1867, when the palace underwent a major restoration project to restore its main buildings, such as Geunjeongjeon Hall, Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, and Sujeongjeon Hall. Generally, Sajeongjeon Hall has a similar interior design as Geungjeongjeon Hall. Both halls have the Irworobongdo painting behind the royal seat, which symbolizes the throne of the king. Also, the floor is covered with square stones that allow the officials to sit on the mat. However, unlike Geungjeongjeon Hall having the dragon painting on the ceiling, Sajeongjeon Hall has Ullyongdo Mural Painting, the dragon painting, on the top between two columns in the center. On the other hand, we can find Angbu Ilgu, the Korean sundial, in front of Sajeongjeon Hall. It is a concave sundial shaped like a hemisphere that was first created in 1434 under the reign of King Sejong. It was invented to measure time throughout the day by the shadow cast by the sun. Although it was one of the most important office buildings, it is believed that the Joseon kings preferred using Manchunjeon or Cheonchujeon Hall more than Sajeongjeon Hall in the winter. The reason is that two buildings had traditional heating systems, unlike Sajeongjeon Hall. The hall is currently regarded as a valuable source of knowledge about the architectural style and layout of palaces in the Joseon Dynasty.