In 1392, King Taejo founded the Joseon dynasty and moved the capital to Hanyang, present-day Seoul. By 1395, construction of Gyeongbokgung, the dynasty's main palace, was completed. Though initially used by Taejo, political struggles soon left the palace abandoned for a decade. His successor, King Taejong, repaired and expanded it, though he personally favored Changdeokgung. It was under Sejong the Great, beginning in 1418, that Gyeongbokgung became the true center of royal life. Scientific innovation flourished there, and the Hall of Worthies assisted Sejong in creating Hangul, the Korean alphabet. This era of prosperity ended in 1592 when Japanese forces invaded Korea during the Imjin War. Gyeongbokgung was destroyed in the flames of the invasion and left in ruins for centuries, while Joseon's rulers used other palaces. It was not until 1865, under the regency of Queen Sinjeong for King Gojong, that Gyeongbokgung was rebuilt. By 1868, the royal family returned, and by 1888, the reconstruction was largely complete. The palace even became a site of modern innovation when Korea’s first electric lights were installed in 1887. But political turmoil soon overshadowed these achievements. In 1895, Queen Min was assassinated inside the palace by Japanese agents, forcing King Gojong to abandon it for another residence. As Japan tightened its grip on Korea, Gyeongbokgung’s fate worsened. After annexation in 1910, the palace was systematically dismantled. Of roughly 500 buildings, only about 40 survived colonial rule. Many structures were demolished, moved, or replaced by Japanese-built colonial offices. Most prominently, the massive Government-General Building rose directly in front of the palace’s throne hall, symbolically eclipsing Korean sovereignty. By liberation in 1945, Gyeongbokgung was a shell of its former self. Postwar Korea struggled to prioritize cultural restoration amidst political upheaval and poverty. During the Korean War, the palace suffered more damage and looting. Some modest repairs allowed the site to reopen to the public, but concrete reconstructions of key gates during the 1960s were widely criticized. It was not until the 1980s that a serious preservation effort began. The First Gyeongbokgung Restoration Plan launched in 1990, aiming to rebuild the palace as it had been under King Gojong in 1888. The controversial Government-General Building was demolished in 1996, clearing the way for further reconstructions. By 2010, 89 structures had been restored. Since then, the Second Gyeongbokgung Restoration Plan, running from 2008 to 2045, has guided ongoing work. Today, Gyeongbokgung stands again as the symbolic heart of Seoul, home to museums, ceremonies, and cultural events. Though still incomplete, its restoration continues to recover what was once lost through centuries of fire, war, and occupation.

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