The star of all Korean palaces is now closed. On Sept. 2, the Korean Heritage Service announced that Geunjeongjeon, the main building of Gyeongbokgung, is off-limits to the public from September to October. The decision was made to renovate areas of the building that were damaged due to aging and tourism.
Gyeongbokgung’s Geunjeongjeon was built in 1394 and served as the main throne hall for kings during the Joseon era. The area also served as a room to host official state affairs and greet foreign ambassadors. The courtyard, connected to the palace with woldae, a stair platform, was a place where state officials would come to greet the king. As the centerpiece of Korea’s main palace, Geunjeongjeon is a symbol of Korean power and dignity.
“For the past and throughout history, Gyeongbokgung has been very significant to Korea,” Hyo Young Nam, AP World History teacher, said. “Even in times of Japanese imperialism, it was one thing that even Japan was trying to lock up.”
There had been attempts to destroy Geunjeongjeon since its creation. During the Imjin Wars, the place was burnt down by the Japanese army, and it took generations of kings to rebuild. Opposition persisted in the renovation process, as new materials were expensive. During the Japanese occupation in the early 20th century, Gyeongbokgung was eclipsed by the Government-General of Korea building as well.
“To my understanding, Gyeongbokgung was destroyed a few times, so we continued to rebuild it, and it is closing [again] right now,” Carson Park (12), History Honor Society vice president, said. “Historical preservation is important in the sense that, as a society, it is like a progression line to see what you did in the past and where you were involved in it.”
Despite constant attempts over both the Joseon and the modern eras to fix Gyeongbokgung, problems continue to persist. A few years ago, authorities became aware of the instability of the building and cracks in the woldae, the palace’s stair platform. Despite restoration efforts being made from 2021-2023, Geunjeongjeon received a “C” grade for the 2023 Monitoring Report on Priority Cultural Heritage Sites, requiring careful inspection.
This has led to Gyeongbokgung being closed to tourism for periods of time. Since 2023, there have been a series of small restrictions on tourists to keep them off the woldae as much as possible. Geungjeongjeon was also closed off from April to May this year in fear of increased tourist activities during Spring exacerbating the conditions of the palace platform.
According to the Korean Heritage Service, they plan to start their protection service for Gyeongbokgung’s stone structures by next year with government funds, which means that the palace will likely be closed for longer periods. Some concerns arise in the fact that long periods of restrictions will lead to a decrease in tourism, as Gyeongbokgung is one of the largest attractions for tourists.
“If we close down the whole thing, it is definitely going to impact tourism,” Ms. Nam said. “There is a lot of increasing interest in Korea because of K-pop or movies, and there are a lot of tourists [at the palaces.] In terms of tourist purposes, I think it is definitely a better choice to close down one at a time, but at the same time, how effective is that going to be [in fixing palaces].”
However, closing down completely may not be the only solution in preserving Gyeongbokgung.
“I do not believe that tourism should outweigh preservation, but I see the two as connected,” Chloe Park (11), Seoul Architecture Preservation Club president, said. “I believe it can also serve as a means of preserving historical artifacts. Tourism can actually support preservation by generating funds that can be reinvested in protecting historical sites. When managed responsibly, tourism not only raises awareness but also provides the financial means to safeguard historical artifacts for future generations.”
