There’s a saying: when you pour new wine, you need a new cup. For King Taejo of Joseon and his ministers, especially the strategist Jeong Do-jeon, that new cup was Hanyang, now Seoul, and at its heart, Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Having overthrown Goryeo and established Neo-Confucianism as the state ideology, the founders of Joseon designed Gyeongbokgung as both a physical and symbolic center, where architecture, ritual, and philosophy align with intention. Even its name reflects this vision, expressing a wish for enduring prosperity, legitimacy, and blessings across generations.
But beneath its Confucian framework, traces of Buddhism, Daoism, Shamanism, and older folk beliefs remain woven into the palace’s design. In this way, Gyeongbokgung becomes a microcosm of Korean society itself, layered, evolving, and deeply interconnected.
Led by a licensed heritage guide, this experience invites you to explore the ideas that once animated these halls, and that continue to shape Korea today.
