Seoul

책 소개

An Invitation to Seoul’s Beauty and History 1. Seoul is a city of great historical depths, bearing witness to prehistoric life from 6,000 years ago; to 500 years of Baekje Kingdom’s thriving Wirye-seong era; and to 500 years of Joseon, as the capital of the last dynasty on the Korean peninsula. It is definitely one of the richest troves of cultural relics in the country, a destination not to be missed by visitors seeking to trace Korea’s past. Many foreigners visiting Seoul, at once taken by the city’s beauty and heritage, wonder why its charm yet remains largely unknown to the world, especially compared with other historical cities like Japan’s Kyoto, France’s Paris and Korea’s Gyeongju. Many of them marvel first at Seoul’s location, nestled in perfect harmony with its natural surroundings. On their ride along the Han River from Incheon International Airport into the city, the visitors are surprised at the fact that a city has been developed on the banks of such a wide river. And they are once again impressed as they step into their downtown hotel rooms, at the majestic skyline of Mt. Inwang, Mt. Baegak and Mt. Nam that embraces the city’s modern silhouette. Indeed, nature is a dramatic presence that can be felt in any part of the city. Seoul’s river and mountains make up the gorgeous colors of the city’s permanent backdrop. One can truly appreciate the beauty of Seoul’s many palaces, royal tombs and modern architectural relics only by observing them within the context of their natural surroundings. 2. The relics that best retain the history and grandeur of Seoul in its 500 years as Joseon’s capital are the kingdom’s five main palaces; Gyeongbok-gung, Changdeok-gung, Changgyeong-gung, Deoksu-gung and Gyeonghui-gung. Although they have lost much of their original structure to the Japanese invasion of 1592, the Korean War and the intentional destruction carried out by the Japanese colonial government during the first half of the 20th century, the remaining buildings are in themselves great representations of the majesty of Joseon’s court culture. Gyeongbok Palace is currently going through a major restoration, which will be completed in 2009. This palace sits snug in the arms of two grand and imposing mountains, Inwang and Baegak, retaining a comforting balance while at the same time exuding its stately magnificence. Gyeongbok-gung’s two main attractions are Gyeonghoe-ru and Hyangwon-jeong, both pavilions specifically designed for banquets and other functions that involve art and entertainment, both boasting great architectural beauty. Changdeok Palace takes the art of spatial design to yet another level of sophistication. Its location commands distant view of Mt. Inwang and Mt. Baegak, offering both the majesty of a royal palace and the intimacy of a home. The kings of Joseon preferred to live in Changdeok-gung than in any other palace in the city. The palatial grounds include what was the vastest and the most beautiful garden in all of Joseon and also Buyong Pavilion, which overlooks an intricately decorated pond, and Yeongyeong-dang, a replica of a nobleman’s house within the king’s palace. Changgyeong-gung, Deoksu-gung and Gyeonghui-gung may be much smaller in scale and less versatile in terms of style, but these three palaces still boast their own charm and splendor. 3. Along with the palaces, there are many other relics and structures in Seoul that are related to kingly authority and the management of the state, including the royal ancestral shrine Jongmyo, the Sajik Altar, the shrines for royal concubines at Chilgung, the Confucian academy Seonggyun-gwan, the shrines Munmyo and Dongmyo, the Seonnong Altar and the Wongu Altar. Among them, Jongmyo is one of the finest works of architecture in all of Korea, the first in Korea to be designated by Unesco as World Heritage. The woldae, or moon terrace, at Jeong-jeon, Jongmyo’s main hall, served as the venue for rituals for the dynasty’s past kings, its design reflecting…

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