The palace is a historically important to understand the relationship between Korea and Japan. Instead of giving you the whole story, which is complicated and pretty sordid.. Here are what we were most fascinated by while visiting;
- after being destroyed multiple times under the colonial government of the Empire of Japan ( this part of Korea was occupied by Japan 1910-1945 ); every single building was rebuilt to the be the exact replica of the original compound. This is still a work in project, and should be completed in the next 10 years.
- Empress Myeongseong ( Empress of Korea ) was assassinated by sword-barring Japanese assassins on the palace's grounds. Upon entering Gyeongbokgung, the assassins killed 3 women suspected to be the Empress, and then burned their bodies with pines in the garden. Afterward, because of the Empress close relationship with Russian Officials, a lot of Koreans promptly fled to Russia. While her death was horrible, it helped create a better political environment between the two countries.
Here are some pictures;
David sitting in the front steps of the Palace's school, where only the most privileged and brilliant children would be allowed to study.
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