Kyŏngbok Palace

palace, Seoul, South Korea

Also known as: Gyeongbok Palace

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

Kyongbok Palace, located in Seoul, South Korea, was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. Founded in 1395, it was the primary residence of Joseon kings until 1592, when it was destroyed by fire during a Japanese invasion. The palace was reconstructed between 1865 and 1867 and remains the largest throne hall in Korea.12

The Joseon dynasty, which ruled Korea from 1392 to 1910, established its capital at Hanyang, present-day Seoul. The dynasty was influenced by Chinese culture and adopted Neo-Confucianism as its state ideology. Key developments during this period include the invention of the Korean phonetic alphabet, Hangul, in 1443. Despite invasions and periods of isolation, the Joseon dynasty saw advancements in scholarship and a burgeoning monetary economy. The dynasty ended with Japan's formal annexation of Korea in 1910.32

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Korean architecture
Koryŏ period (918–1392)
…in Kaesŏng (now in the Kyŏngbok Palace, Seoul). The pagoda stands on a cross-shaped, three-tiered platform. Every architectural detail from roof tiles to the bracket system is painstakingly reproduced, and numerous Buddhist figures in relief cover the entire surface of the pagoda. This type of highly decorated pagoda with its…
Read More
…in Kaesŏng (now in the Kyŏngbok Palace, Seoul). The pagoda stands on a cross-shaped, three-tiered platform. Every architectural detail from roof tiles to the bracket system is painstakingly reproduced, and numerous Buddhist figures in relief cover the entire surface of the pagoda. This type of highly decorated pagoda with its…
Read More

Seoul
Cultural life
…on the grounds of the Gyeongbok Palace. The Sejong Center for Performing Arts, to the south of the palace, has facilities for concerts, plays, and exhibitions and is the location of an arts academy. Seoul is also home to one of the world’s tallest buildings, the 123-story Lotte World Tower.
Read More
…on the grounds of the Gyeongbok Palace. The Sejong Center for Performing Arts, to the south of the palace, has facilities for concerts, plays, and exhibitions and is the location of an arts academy. Seoul is also home to one of the world’s tallest buildings, the 123-story Lotte World Tower.
Read More