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Kings and queens of Joseon living in royal residences such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, Deoksugung Palace, and Changdeokgung Palace had built a magnificent and sublime royal culture during the Joseon Dynasty. Their beloved palaces were brimming with art treasures from the greatest artists of that time. What dresses did they wear? What paintings did they see? What tools did they use? The National Palace Museum of Korea, which will be shortly introduced, will satisfy all your curiosities.
 The National Palace Museum of Korea is a royal museum, which exhibits royal artifacts and related materials of the Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910). The Royal Museum in the Stone Hall of Deoksugung Palace was moved to a significantly larger location at Gyeongbokgung Palace and re-opened under the name of “The National Palace Museum of Korea” on August 15, 2005. The Museum has about 40,000 collections of precious royal artifacts found in Joseon’s palaces, and for the present about 700 collections are exhibited on the 2nd floor halls. All of the exhibit halls on the 1st floor and the basement will be opened by the year 2007.
 The National Palace Museum is within sight on your left as soon as get out from Gate no.5 of Gyeongbokgung Subway Station of Line 3. Use the stairs and enter through the 2nd floor entrance, the lobby and the information desk can be easily located.
Vocal guide players in Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese, etc. can be borrowed at the information desk. The vocal guide players will be helpful to see the exhibition because there are no explanations at the exhibits. For convenience, there are strollers and wheel chairs to borrow for free, interpreters of various languages are on hand for any questions, and coin lockers are behind the information desk.
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The 2nd floor being opened to the public is divided into 5 exhibit halls. “Royal Symbols and Records,” will be on your left when you walk around from the 1st exhibit hall.
▒ The Guide Map of the Museum Exhibition
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1. Royal Symbols and Records
 “Royal Seals (Eobo)”, “Royal Books (Eochaek)”, “Royal Portraits (Eojin)”, symbolizing the king’s divine authority, and other documents are exhibited in the 1st hall. “Royal Seals (Eobo)” are the hand stamps of Joseon’s king and queen, “Royal Books (Eochaek)”are their books, and “Royal Portraits (Eojin)”are their portraits. The king’s seat, “Royal Throne (Eojwa)”, and “Folding-screen of the Sun, Moon and the Five Peaks (Irworobongdo)”, which was always set behind the seat, are also exhibited. The sun, moon, mountains, pine trees, etc. are painted on “Irworobongdo”, and each subject has a special meaning to show the national principles of Joseon’s royal court.
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Seal of King Taejo, the Founder of Joseon Dynasty, “Eobo”
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Outer and Inner Cases of the King’s Seal(Eobo)
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Portrait of King Yeongjo
(Treasure No.932)
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King's Throne, “Eojwa”
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King’s Throne and Folding-screen of the Sun, Moon and the Five Peaks
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Illustration of Crown Prince’s Entrance Ceremony into Seonggyungwan
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Genealogy of Joseon’s Royal Family
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2. Ancestral Rites
 Ritual dishes, music instruments, and costumes used for “Ancestral Rite” are exhibited. “Ancestral Rite” is a royal ancestral worship ceremony, which the king held with his lieges at a royal shrine encompassing the ancestral tablets of the late kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty. “Ancestral Rite” still exists today as the biggest Korean traditional ceremony held by Joseon’s royal posterity every May. In the hall, interesting ritual musical instruments such as Korean Stone Carillon (Pyeongyeong) and Bell Carillon (Pyeonjong) are exhibited. Sixteen polished stones or bells are suspended in two rows and tuned by varying its thicknesses.
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Korean Stone Carillon, “Pyeongyeong”
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Korean Bell Carillon, “Pyeonjong”
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Ritual Liquor Container in the Shape of a Cow
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Ancestral Rite Costume
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3. Palace Architecture
 A Plaque of the Palace - framed flat piece of silk, paper, or wooden board with writing or painting on it which was fixed to a wall or the top of a gate - and a Canopy – a decorated cover placed on a ceiling - are exhibited. “Canopy with Twin Dragons” known as the ceiling decoration of Jeongjeon - a main hall where the center of social issues and political discussions were held – is a splendid piece of collections. The dragon pattern was frequently used to symbolize the king’s divine authority. Ridge tiles in the shape of animals were placed on the roof of a palace to prevent misfortune are also exhibited. The ridge tiles, which were seen from a distance because they were placed on the roof, can be seen close up in the exhibition.
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A Wooden Sculpture in the Shape
of an Animal
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A Ceiling Decoration of the Canopy
with Twin Dragons
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A Ridge Tile in the Shape of an Animal
on the Roof of Geunjeongjeon Hall
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4. Joseon Sciences
 Sciences such as astronomy, medical science, pharmacy, etc. from the Joseon Dynasty made rapid progress. Various scientific instruments including a Stone Astronomical Chart called “Cheonsangyeolchabunyajidogakseok” and weapons including the swords of King Taejo are exhibited in the 4th hall.
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5. Royal Life
 The 5th exhibit hall is the most favorite hall of female visitors where brilliant costumes and personal adornments, finest pieces of furniture, etc. are exhibited. Costumes and hairpins for the Japanese spouse of the last crown prince of Joseon’s royal family, Yeongchinwangbi (Yi, Bangja), are also exhibited. The typical adornment of traditional Korean costumes with many colors called “Norigae” gratifies the eye. In addition, there are objects of metal craft and ceramic ware in the 5th hall.
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After looking around at all the exhibit halls, the last exhibits to see are the genealogical table of the Joseon dynasty and framed portraits of the royal family from many generations.
From the founder of Joseon Dynasty, King Taejo (Yi, Seonggye), to the last direct descendant, Yi, Gu, who died in 2005, each picture has a detailed explanatory note about the Joseon royal family.
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| Yeongchiinwangbi
and her son, Yi, Gu |
“Royal Palanquins of the Joseon Dynasty” will be held in the Special Exhibition Hall on the 2nd floor in March 2006.
A cafeteria and a museum shop are located on the 1st floor, and various souvenirs are on sale in the shop.
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The “National Palace Museum of Korea”, where the Joseon’s royal court can be felt familiar through various royal artifacts, and the “National Museum of Korea” opened in Yongsan, where the wide scope of Korean history is introduced, cannot be simply compared. However, the National Palace Museum of Korea has just scratched the surface of introducing Joseon’s royal court and plans to go further in depth with their displays.
The spirit of the Joseon’s royal court can be felt through each splendid artifact and royal court life. When more exhibit halls on the 1st floor and the basement are opened, there is high anticipation that these exhibitions will be much greater and have more collections on display.
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▶Information
Phone : 02-3701-7500
Homepages : www.gogung.go.kr/eng (Korean, English)
Transportation : Take subway line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station, and go out Exit 5.
Walk towards Samcheong-dong for 5 minutes.
Admission Fee : Ages 19 to 64 2,000 won, Ages 7 to 18 1,000 won
Age 6 or under, age 65 or older are free
Hours : From Tuesday to Friday 9:00 –18:00, From Saturday to Sunday, holidays 9:00 – 19:00
Closing: Every Monday
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