Weekend in Seoul - Part III.

Statue of King Sejong the Great, who was responsible for the creation of hangul (Korean characters)

A colorful palace ceiling

One of the buildings of Deoksugung Palace

Really cool walled gate at Deoksugung Palace

Deoksugung Palace

Sunday was a sunny day, and perfect for checking out Deoksugung Palace. Deoksugung, sometimes called Deoksu Palace in English and meaning "Palace of Virtuous Longevity", is one of the "Five Grand Palaces" built in Seoul during the Joseon Dynasty. It served as the residence for various members of the royal family from the fifteenth century through the end of World War II and the Japanese occupation. Its architecture is notable for the wide variety of styles employed, especially compared its sister palaces. In addition to the main buildings, there is also an art museum, a small forested garden, and a statue of King Sejong the Great (from wiki.galbijim).

There was a May festival going on here, and staff members were setting up a stage in one of the palace buildings for an outdoor concert (what a great venue!). Families were strolling around the grounds and enjoying the sunshine, the gardens, and the laid-back atmosphere. I had so much fun just people-watching!

On the palace grounds is the National Museum of Contemporary Art, which had an exhibit running on the Korean painter Heon Geon. He is famous for scroll paintings of Korean landscapes, mostly of cloud-misted mountains, pine trees, temples, and rural folk life (men fishing, farming, etc.) in watercolor. He's an excellent painter and I was a little glad to be by myself so I could examine each print slowly!