GYEONGBOKGUNG PALACE: THE CHANGING OF ROYAL GUARDS CEREMONY
I
never knew changing of guards can be festive.
There
is one part of our South Korea trip that is certain to happen. That is, to witness the changing of the royal
guards ceremony at the Gyeongbokgung Palace.
A
walking distance from where we live, the winter breeze was such a comfort that
it becomes a walk in the park. With
concrete stone walls that surround and spectators gathered at the central gate,
we knew we were at the right place.
It
is said that in the ancient times, the royal guards of the Joseon Dynasty
performed the given task by guarding the Gwanghwamun Gate, the entrance of
Gyeongbokgung Palace where the king ruled the country. The reenactment of the original ceremony began
from 1996. The gate guardsmen serve
their sentry, perform the changing of guards and hold a parade.
Garbed
in traditional costumes of primary colors, the guards have caught the interest
of the tourists, complemented by the weapons, accessories and strict ceremonial
procedure providing a great opportunity of a rare traditional Korean scene in
downtown Seoul.
Excluding
Tuesdays, it is best to know the schedule of the performances at the
Palace. There are three performances to
watch out for and fortunately we’ve witnessed all in one visit.
Sumunjang (Royal Guard)
Changing Ceremony at 10:00, 14:00 and 20 minutes per ceremony
Gwanghwamun Gate Guard-on
Duty Performance at 11:00, 13:00 and 10 minutes per ceremony
Sumungun (Gatekeeper)
Military Training (outside Hyeopsaengmun Gate) at 9:30, 13:30 and 15 minutes
per ceremony
In
addition to the anticipated performances, there is the Sumungun Costume
Experience, to which we have queued and tried.
The costume experience is open to all and is free but only for a limited
time as it happens only before and after the Guard Changing Ceremony and the
Guard-On-Duty Performance.
Gyeongbokgung
Palace remains as one of the grandest and most beautiful of the 5 palaces in
Seoul. It is also known as the Northern
Palace as it is located on further north compared to the rest of the
palace.
The
vast compound of the palace made it impossible for us to discover all the
halls, structures and museums housed in it.
There are two museums within the compound and these are: The National
Folk Museum and National Palace Museum of Korea.
Apart
from the main throne hall showcasing the finest architecture in the form of
detailed and meticulous roof tiles, we also passed by varied pavilions and
gates of equally stunning façade.
The changing
of guards can indeed be festive and it is showcased everyday (except Tuesday)
making it more accessible to the viewing public and the visitors.
HOW TO GET THERE
Through
the subway line Gyeongbokgung Palace Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 5 or
the Gwanghwamun Station (Seoul Subway Line 5) at Exit 2.
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