Day 40 - Deoksugung and Rice Pizza

Daehanmun at Deoksu Palace (the main gate).

For my Premodern Korean history class I have to do a group presentation on an assigned historical thing in Korea. My groups topic is Deoksugung, or Deoksu Palace (gung means palace). Deoksugung is one of the Five Grand Palaces built in Seoul during the Joseon dynasty.

The changing ceremony of the royal guard, seen from behind because we were already inside when it happened.

After class today I went with one of the other members of my group to visit the palace so we could take pictures for our presentation and also get some historical information on it.

Hamyeongjeon, the sleeping quarters of Emperor Gojong 

Junghwamun Gate, the gate leading to the throne room

We were lucky and by chance arrived at exactly the right time to see the changing ceremony of the royal guards in front of the Daehanmun. The Daehan part of Daehanmun means "Hanyang will prosper" (Hanyang was the old name of Seoul) and "mun" means gate.

Jeonggwanheon (the pavilion)

After watching the changing of the guard we went and looked at the other buildings on the palace grounds, including Junghwajeon (the main throne hall), Jeukjodang (home of the king), Hamnyeongjeon (sleeping quarters of Emporer Gojong), Deokhongjeon (where Emporer Gojong recieved high-ranking officials and foreign envoys), Jeonggwanheon (pavilion), and Seokjojeon  (a Western-style stone building).

Junghwajeon, the throne room

Seogeodang, where Queen Inmok was confined for ten years.

After we finished touring the palace we headed back to Yonsei University where we parted ways.

Seokjojeon, the Western-style building

I tried to capture the Western and Eastern style buildings in the same photo but most of the Eastern ones are behind the trees

Later on that night I got a rice crust pizza from a place called 59 Pizza, located near the movie theater about a 10 minute walk from my dorm. It was really good and very reasonably priced! I'll definitely be going back there again.

Pineapple rice crust pizza from 59 Pizza! Yum!

That's all for now!