Jongmyo Shrine served as the venue for the royal ancestral rites during the Joseon period. Unesco inscribed Jongmyo on its World Heritage List in 1995. The construction of Jongmyo Shrine was completed in 1395 before that of the main palace, Gyeongbokgung Palace. Jongmyo Shrine is the supreme shrine of the state [...]]]>

Jongmyo Shrine

Jongmyo Shrine served as the venue for the royal ancestral rites during the Joseon period. Unesco inscribed Jongmyo on its World Heritage List in 1995. The construction of Jongmyo Shrine was completed in 1395 before that of the main palace, Gyeongbokgung Palace. Jongmyo Shrine is the supreme shrine of the state where the tablets of royal ancestors are enshrined and memorial services are performed for deceased kings and queens.

There are 83 spirit tablets of the kings and queens enshrined either in the Main Hall (Jeongjeon) or the Hall of Eternal Peace (Yeongnyeong-jeon). The Hall of Eternal Peace was built in 1421 after the Main Hall ran out of space. Subsequently, the two buildings were expanded several times resulting in their uniquely long linear shape today.

In addition to the two shrine halls, the Jongmyo compound has various halls that were used when preparing for the rites. The layout and structures of Jongmyo Shrine are very simple. The spirit chambers inside the halls where the spirit tablets are enshrined are decorated inside but the shrine halls have minimal adornment and project a sense of dignity and solemnity.

The Main Hall (Jeongjeon) is listed as National Treasure No. 227 and is the longest building of traditional desgin in Korea.

In Jeseon, a strict Confucian society, ceremonies to deceased ancestors were the most important of all rites. The ceremonies were presided over by the King and served as a model for all sacrificial rites in the dynasty. The ceremony has three distinct phases:
1. Welcoming of the Spirits
2. Entertaining them
3. Ushering them out
The ceremony previously was conducted five times a year but since 1971 it has been held on the first Sunday in May.

Opening Hours / Admission:
Closed on Tuesdays.
March – September: 09:00 – 18:00
October – February: 09:00 – 17:30
On weekdays and Sundays you can only enter the shrine with a guided tour.
Guided Tours
Korean – 9 times a day / 09:20 – 16:20 (every hour), (17:00 March to September only)
English – 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00
Japanese – 09:00, 09:40, 10:40, 11:40, 12:40, 13:40, 14:40, 15:40, (16:40 March to September only)
Chinese – 11:00, 15:00
On Saturdays you are free to wander around Jongmyo by yourself.

Admission:
Adults (19 and over): 1,000 won
Children: 500 won

How to get to Jongmyo Shrine:
Take line 1, 3 or 5 to Jongno 3 (sam)-ga station and leave exit 7 or 11 and follow the map below.

Starbucks Coffee Korea opened its first store in Ewha Womans University on July 27, 1999. Today Starbucks Coffee Korea operates over 300 stores in 35 cities throughout Korea.

For any big fans of Starbucks Coffee in Seoul, you should visit the store at City Hall Station. It was built next to [...]]]>

Starbucks City Hall Seoul

Starbucks Coffee Korea opened its first store in Ewha Womans University on July 27, 1999. Today Starbucks Coffee Korea operates over 300 stores in 35 cities throughout Korea.

For any big fans of Starbucks Coffee in Seoul, you should visit the store at City Hall Station. It was built next to Hwangudan Gate and Altar. The altar is in the garden of the Westin Chosun Hotel. To keep up with the style of the Gate and Altar this Starbucks Coffee took on a traditional Korean style design.

The outside of the building is quite similar in style to what you may find at the big palaces such as Gyeongbokgung Palace or Deoksugung Palace. The interior is quite similar to any other Starbucks in Korea with the exception of pictures of their community involvement on the wall.

If you visit this Starbucks Coffee shop I suggest you get it to go and head around to the Hwangudan Altar / small green area and take a few minutes to relax and take in the beauty of traditional and modern Korea combined. Also about 3 minutes walk away is Deoksugung Palace.

How to get to Starbucks at City Hall Station:
Take line 1 or 2 to City Hall Station. Leave exit 6 and follow the map below or head towards the Westin Chosun Hotel.

Admiral Yi Sun-sin was a Korean Naval Commander noted for his battles against the invading Japanese. He was born April 28th, 1545 and died in battle on December 16th, 1598. Admiral Yi remains a hero today in Korea. You can find many museums and statues dedicated to him across Korea.

This  statue pictured to the [...]]]>

Admiral Yi Sun-sin Statue

Admiral Yi Sun-sin was a Korean Naval Commander noted for his battles against the invading Japanese. He was born April 28th, 1545 and died in battle on December 16th, 1598. Admiral Yi remains a hero today in Korea. You can find many museums and statues dedicated to him across Korea.

This  statue pictured to the right is located in Gwanghwamun plaza (see below how to get there). Also, located in the area is the statue of Sejong the Great and the Gyeongbokgung Palace. Admiral Yi’s statue is surrounded by some water fountains and plants.

You should visit his statue and the palace for a great one day trip.

How to get to Admiral Yi Sun-sin Statue:
The stature of Admiral Yi is located in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the American embassy and Gwanghwamun in Seoul. You can take line 3 to Gyeongbokgung station exit 5,
Line 5 to Gwanghwamun station exit 2,
Line 1 to Jonggak station exit 1.

Also, look out for the hit TV show Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin. The Drama was aired in 2004/2005 and there are 104 episodes.

Sejong the Great Statue in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul.

Who is he?

Sejong was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. His reign of power was from September 18th, 1418 until he died of diabetes on May 18th, 1450.

He was a very smart man. He had a love for Science, [...]]]>

Sejong the Great Statue

Sejong the Great Statue in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul.

Who is he?

Sejong was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. His reign of power was from September 18th, 1418 until he died of diabetes on May 18th, 1450.

He was a very smart man. He had a love for Science, technology and literature. He is loved in Korea and you can find him on the 10,000WON BILL front and on the back a Korean Celestial Globe.

What Sejong is most well-known for is Hangul, the Korean writing system. Yes, we see it everyday in Korea and before that, Korean people used Hanja (Chinese charaters). Hanja was very complex and took years of study to learn something which most average citizens didn’t have available to them. Sejong wanted to establish a cultural identity through script for the people of Korea. In 1446, he first publish the 28 letter alphabet, HANGUL. It was very easy to learn and people could pick it up after only a few hours of study.

You should visit his statue and the palace for a great one day trip.

How to get to King Sejong Statue:
The stature of King Sejong is located in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace, The American embassy and Gwanghwamun in Seoul. You can take line 3 to Gyeongbokgung station exit 5,
Line 5 to Gwanghwamun station exit 2,
Line 1 to Jonggak station exit 1.

Also, look out for the hit TV show The Great King Sejong showing how he improved his dynasty and making Korea a better place. The Drama was aired in 2008 and there are 80 episodes.

Gyeonbokgung Palace also know as Gyeonbokgung was constructed in 1394. The Palace was destroyed during the Japanese occupation of Korea. The South Korean Government in 1989 started a 40 year initiative to rebuild or repair the damage that was done during the Japanese occupation.

You can easily spend hours wandering around this Palace. The whole [...]]]>

Gyeonbokgung Palace Entrance

Gyeonbokgung Palace also know as Gyeonbokgung was constructed in 1394. The Palace was destroyed during the Japanese occupation of Korea. The South Korean Government in 1989 started a 40 year initiative to rebuild or repair the damage that was done during the Japanese occupation.

You can easily spend hours wandering around this Palace. The whole area is divided up into different sections. You have the Living quarters, Pavillion, Shrines, Official Quarters, compounds and many more.

Opening Hours:
March through October: 9am to 6pm
November through February: 9am to 5pm
Open until 7pm on Weekends and National Holidays (May to August only).
Ticket booth will close one hour before closing of the palace.
Closed on Tuesdays

Admission:
3’000 Won (Half price for Kids and Teens from 7 to 18)

Free Guided Walking Tours:
English at 11am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm
Japanese at 10am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm
Chinese at 10.30am, 1pm and 3pm

Changing of Guards:
Every hour from 1oam to 4pm

How To Get to Gyeongbokgung Palace:

There are 3 lines located near the Palace. See the picture below for more info.
The easiest way to get there is to take Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung station and leave exit 5.
View larger map

For more information visit the official site http://www.royalpalace.go.kr/html/eng/main/main.jsp