The Asian capital home to Gyeongbokgung Palace, first built in 1395, is Seoul.
Gyeongbokgung is a former royal palace in Seoul and was the first major palace of Korea’s Joseon dynasty. After Taejo founded Joseon in 1392, the court selected Hanyang—modern Seoul—as the capital, and the palace’s first construction phase was completed in 1395.
The palace flourished under King Sejong the Great, whose reign saw major cultural and scientific developments connected with the court. Gyeongbokgung was destroyed during the Imjin War in 1592 and remained largely abandoned until a major reconstruction campaign began in the nineteenth century.
Visitors sometimes assume that every visible building is original. Japanese colonial rule led to extensive demolition and alteration, while modern restoration has recreated many structures. Gyeongbokgung is also distinct from Seoul’s Changdeokgung, another important Joseon palace that often served as a royal residence.