The Most Enchanting Places for Gyeongbokgung Palace Photos

Built in 1395, Geunjeongjeon Hall was the main palace of the Josean dynasty and arguably the crown jewel inside the Gyeongbokgung complex. So it makes sense to start any visit to the complex with an early morning stop at Geunjeongjeon, before the crowds descend.

Geunjeongjeon is located near the main entrance to Gyeongbokgung and is one of those “you’ll know it when you see it” types of places. Built in 1395, it served as the throne hall of the Joseon dynasty and remains one of the most striking symbols of Korean history. The hall’s grand, symmetrical architecture and sweeping courtyard offer a regal atmosphere perfect for capturing souvenir photos.

While there’s technically no wrong way to photograph the Hall, I recommend snapping a low angle shot from just below one of the terrace’s four corners. If you have a wide angle lens, this point of view creates a particularly compelling composition that highlights the details along the hall’s sloped roof.

Head right back down the stairs surrounding Geunjeongjeon Hall and across the courtyard in any direction to reach the next enchanting photo spot in the palace: the surrounding colonnade.

With a fantastic span of dark red columns holding up a seemingly infinite number of decorated turquoise beams, the colonnade is the perfect place for shots in which you want to highlight the subject or feature mind-bending symmetrical architecture.

This spot can also be used to create a bit of drama in your photographs as the roofed pavilion creates a bit of shadowed darkness that contrasts nicely with the bright side light emanating from the courtyard.

To the right of Geunjeongjeon Hall is a gate leading to Gyejodang Hall, the crown prince’s quarters. Although it’s really only a pathway “in-between” two famous buildings, the area under this gate is the next photo spot I recommend in Gyeongbokgung Palace complex.

As most tourists tend to jet straight to the Geunjeongjeon Hall steps for photos, this gated area offers a more intimate, serene setting for early morning visitors who want to snap unique shots.

Framed by a traditional wooden gate, faded pink walls and an intricate sloped roof, the narrow alley here features soft, romantic lighting in the early mornings and late afternoons. The textures of the stone walls are enhanced and create a subtle, but beautiful contrast against the rich wood and new tiles of the newly renovated Gyejodang Hall, just beyond.

Located near the south-east corner of the Palace, Gyejodang Hall, also known as the Crown Prince’s Hall, was formally restored and opened in 2023 – the first time in 110 years!

As it was still somewhat “new” during my visit, Gyejodang didn’t have the same traditional decorative paintwork (dancheong) that can be found elsewhere throughout complex just yet, but I still found the Hall to be quite magical! Gyejodang is uniquely positioned between the Geunjeongjeon Courtyard and the Palace’s eastern wall, meaning there’s lots of open space to walk around and take in the fresh architectural details without the same crowds you’d have to fight near Geunjeongjeon.

Just beyond Gyejodang’s short wooden gate and archway is a large pavilion, flanked on one side by buildings and on the other side by Geonchunmun Gate.

As this gate is not part of the main tourist entrance and a bit of a walk from the nearest building, it’s a much more intimate setting for photos. Moreover, the gate itself is quite impressive. To me, it held the same epic grandeur you might imagine on a historic film set. If you’re hoping to avoid a “cheesy” travel postcard feel in your photography, this is a wonderful atmospheric spot inside the palace.

Jagyeongjeon Hall is a beautiful building nestled toward the middle of Gyeongbokgung. Originally built in 1865 as the private residence of Queen Sinjeong, it’s still a relatively new building in the otherwise ancient complex and features vibrant pinks and reds perfect for making any photo pop.

With short rooflines, vibrant floral motifs, and delicate lattice windows, Jagyeongjeon allows photographers to capture close-up architectural details that can’t be easily seen on the palace’s larger structures.

One such detail is Jagyeongjeon’s Chimney with Ten Symbols of Longevity. As its name suggests, the chimney has a sipjangsaeng engraving, a design of animals and trees symbolizing longevity that was particularly popular among the Joseon dynasty elite.

Just west of Jagyeongjeon is Gyeonghoeru Pavilion. Sitting on an island in the middle of a serene pond, Gyeonghoeru dates back to the very beginnings of the palace and has undergone multiple reconstructions over time. Its current building was erected in the 1800s by the late Joseon dynasty and can only be reached by three stone bridges that connect to the island.

For the best shots, try capturing the pavilion from across the water, positioning yourself along the pond’s edge to frame the pavilion with the arched stone bridges in the foreground. Sunrise and sunset are particularly magical times, with the soft light enhancing the pavilion’s columns and tiled roof. I visited in January, so the surrounding pond was unfortunately frozen and covered with a bit of snow, but outside of winter, I’ve heard that the water creates a beautiful mirror image reflection of the building that’s perfect for photographers.

Further into the palace is Heungbokjeon Hall. Originally intended as living quarters for palace women, Heungbokjeon later served as a royal office and diplomatic meeting point.

Because it’s a newer reconstruction and much less frequently visited than other halls in the palace, Heungbokjeon is an intimate spot that makes experimenting with angles, apertures, lighting and more easy.I loved photographing the dark brown woods along the floors, ceilings and latticed doors here. It was such a contrast to other spots throughout the the palace and gave my trip photos a much more rustic feel!

Hyangwonjeong Pavilion is, without a doubt, my absolute favorite photo spot in all of Gyeongbokgung. Nestled on a small island connected by a charming wooden bridge at the back of the complex, this two-story pavilion feels like something out of a dream, especially in the quiet winter months when it’s draped in a blanket of snow. The snow-covered rooftop, reddish-purple stone benches and serene reflections in the frozen pond make it an especially magical sight, creating an atmosphere that feels otherworldly.

For photos, I love shooting from the stone benches along the far side of the pond. It’s a perfect place for portrait shots, allowing you to frame your subject around red and green trees and still capture the beautiful architecture from across the pond.

Near the back and the most northern point inside Gyeongbokgung is Jibokae Hall and Parujeong Pavilion. Built in 1891 during the late Joseon dynasty, Jibokjae and Parujeong served as a royal library. Their designs are particularly striking, blending traditional Korean and Chinese architectural styles, making it stand out among the palace buildings.

When I visited, the large field in front of the hall and pavilion was completely empty, offering a peaceful, almost surreal atmosphere. The solitude made it ideal for capturing wide, epic shots that showcase the buildings’ grandeur. I also love the area in front of these structures for capturing photos with movement, particularliy walking shots that can take you through the open space and really highlight the depth and expansiveness inside the palace.