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| yna@yna.co.kr 2025-04-23 09:50:42
SEOUL, April 23 (Yonhap) -- The Gyotaejeon Hall at Gyeongbok Palace, once the living quarters of Joseon-era queens, will be specially opened to the public starting next month in celebration of the 30th anniversary of its restoration, the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) said Wednesday.
According to the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center under the KHS, Gyotaejeon — which means “harmonious union of heaven and earth, yin and yang” — will be open every Wednesday to Friday from May 8 to June 27. The hall, located at the heart of the palace, was also known as Junggungjeon, or the Queen’s Residence.
Although the structure did not exist at the time of Gyeongbok Palace’s initial construction, records suggest it was built in 1440. It was later destroyed and, during the Japanese colonial period in 1917, dismantled to provide materials for building Daejojeon, the queen’s quarters at Changdeok Palace, after a major fire. The current structure was restored in 1995.
Visitors will be able to explore the queen’s living spaces, including the main hall, ondol-heated rooms, and surrounding corridors. On display in the main hall will be two replicas of bubyeokhwa, traditional mural paintings created on silk or paper and then mounted on walls. The murals feature intimate depictions of parrots and a mother monkey with her young.
Craftworks replicating Joseon-era artifacts will also be on display in the ondol room.
For the first time, the interior of Geonsungak, an annex to Gyotaejeon, will also be revealed to the public. Visitors can enjoy immersive digital displays of animals featured in the murals and take commemorative photos.
Another highlight is the view of Amisan, a garden located beyond the corridor, designed as a serene outdoor space for the queen.
The special tour of Gyotaejeon will be available by reservation only, with a maximum of 15 people per session. Reservations open at 2 p.m. on April 30 via the official website of the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center.
[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]