Geung Bok Gong

Dae Jang Geum (大長今) worked here.... when she was alive anyway.

The main hall

As a place of royalty, this palace is surprisingly simplistic in design and outlook. It's not as big as Forbidden Palace but still big enough that it will take you a day if you seriously walk. Since we are talking about palace, I need to mention my apartment is surrounded by palace left right up down. That's why it's called Sommerset Palace and I am called Princess Piggy. NOT Princess Ugly.

The grand entrance and Charlie Angels who refuse to move away

Geung Bok Gong is the biggest and flatest palace in Seoul, which means less stairs to climb. Stairs are super steep too which explains why their customes have billowy skirts. There are several entrance and we inadvertedly choose the side gate, which proves to be a good choice as it saves half the journey compare to coming in from the main entrance.

As with all palaces, the place is simply HUGE and we were a bit late when we arrive, thus some places were already closed when we reach there. There are 13-14 sections that look alike. Study rooms, bedroom, kitchen, stables and they have electricity. Huh...? It seems the old palace burned down during some war and when they rebuild it, the king ask to install electricity. Suddenly it makes me feel like I visited some cheap imitation of an historical place.

There are many beautiful gardens separating each section of the palace. There was even a man made lake with a standalone structure in the middle for the king to entertain foreign emissaries. Now why in the middle of the pond? May it's easier to cough* assassinate *cough stubborn people. Just need to give them a push * cough * rite. When they drained the pond some years ago to clean it. They found a stone dragon at the bottom. Said dragon is now in the museum. No one knows why it's there, accident? Intentional? Feng Shui? Curse? Real mysterious.

The lake

If you manage to walk to the very end of the palace, you will reach this last section which is the queen's domain. To Koreans, it is a beautiful place with a sad story. The last queen Myeong Song was murdered by the Japanese during the war. Before she died, she loved to come here to see flowers in this garden.

A beautiful sad place

Sad to say I also can't find the actual offices of Dae Jang Geum. It was burned down and never rebuild. Bet they regret it now that the drama is so popular. Ho Ho Ho. Anyway this place is available for viewing at 1000 won.