Hanybaram: Korean Culture & Living

  HANYBARAM · KOREAN HISTORY & CULTURE Why Does Seoul Have Five Royal Palaces? A Beginner’s Guide to Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung & Gyeonghuigung Ask a first-time traveler to name a royal palace in Seoul, and Gyeongbokgung Palace will probably be the first answer. But Seoul does not have just one royal palace. Hidden across the historic center of the city are five major royal palaces associated with the Joseon Dynasty : Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Gyeonghuigung. At first, they can look like variations of the same experience: traditional gates, tiled roofs, painted wooden buildings and spacious courtyards. But they are not five versions of the same palace. Each tells a different story about Korean kings, royal families, government, architecture, war, reconstruction and the transformation of Seoul itself. UNDERSTANDING KOREA Seoul’s five royal palaces are not f...

  HANYBARAM · KOREAN HISTORY & CULTURE Gyeongbokgung Palace Explained: How to Understand Korea’s Main Royal Palace A Beginner’s Guide to the Throne Hall, Royal Living Spaces & Palace Layout Walk through Gwanghwamun Gate in central Seoul and one of Korea’s most recognizable historic landscapes opens in front of you. Visitors dressed in hanbok cross broad courtyards. Painted wooden halls stand beneath the mountains. Traditional tiled roofs frame the Seoul skyline. It is easy to see why Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of the most photographed places in Korea. But Gyeongbokgung becomes much more interesting when you stop seeing it only as a beautiful backdrop. Why are the major halls arranged the way they are? Where did the king hold important ceremonies? Where did he work? Where did the king and queen live? And why are some of the palace’s most beautiful spaces surrounded by water and gardens? This guide will help you read Gyeongbokgung as a...

  Illustration inspired by a Joseon royal procession beside Suwon Hwaseong Fortress in warm autumn light. HANYBARAM KOREA · ROYAL HERITAGE & LOCAL CULTURE King Jeongjo’s Royal Procession & Suwon’s Cultural Festival: A 2026 Guide Discover the story behind a royal journey, then explore palace evenings, performances and a slower cultural day in Suwon. KOREAN HISTORY · SUWON TRAVEL · UPDATED OCTOBER 4, 2026 Some journeys through Korea begin with a street, a meal or a cup of tea. Others begin with a story. King Jeongjo’s royal procession offers a way to connect the movement of a king with the places, performances and public celebrations travelers can explore today. For Hanybaram readers interested in traditional culture, this is an invitation to look beyond a photograph of palace roofs. Consider why the journey mattered, how it was recorded, and how a modern city introduces that history to visitors. I...