Today was our first full day in Korea, and it was packed! We started off by visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace, which was the royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. After watching the changing of the guard, we headed inside the gates to see the throne as well as the rest of the buildings. It was amazing to see the gorgeous painted ceilings and the serene mountains in the background, and they were enhanced by the many fun facts from our tour guide Rob. He told us that a black cauldron filled with water is meant to protect the palace from fire damage – if any fire demons come close, they will be scared of their own terrifying reflection and run away. Later, as we walking through the courtyard, he explained the symbolism behind the square and circular columns in the surrounding buildings. Koreans see heaven as a circle and earth as a square – so the collision of a square and a circle signifies perfect harmony.
After stopping for beef bulgogi for lunch, we all headed to the Bukchon Hanok Village, which is filled with traditional clay-roofed houses and has an amazing overlook of the city. We had to keep our voices low, as people actually still live in the houses today – and we learned that intrusive tourism is a source of tension for the current residents.
Next, we walked around the Cheonggye Plaza, which is a public square at the head of the Cheonggyecheon Stream. The plaza was decorated beautifully with colorful lanterns, flowers, and statues on the water.
Our last official stop was the bustling Namdaemun Market. The crowded streets were full of every kind of store you can imagine, and my group definitely lost our way a few times as we wandered through. There were tiny jewelry stores, vendors selling fresh street food, and tons of knockoff designer T-shirts. I bought a sugar doughnut right after they came out of the oven and it was one of the best pastries I’ve ever had. Which is saying something, because I eat a lot of desserts!!
Hopefully the rest of the days in South Korea will be just as busy and delicious as this one.