Gav was running late, but I was just in time to catch the changing of guard. (I actually caught it twice, so I have photos from two angles for your viewing pleasure.)
After the obligatory photo op, it's into the palace, which is actually very like the other two I've visited, Changdeokgung and Deoksugung (3 down, 2 to go--well, 3 if you add Unhyeongung). In essence, there is a main function hall, or throne room; sections for the king and king's servants and concubines; sections for the queen and her followers; a section where the king and queen can, er, get together; entertaning area; and ponds and gardens for relaxation, contemplation and reading. Here is Gavin posing in front of Geunjeongmun, the gate that leads to Geunjeongjeon, main throne hall. Below it are details of Geunjeongjeon:
The following shots are of features of the grounds at Gyeongbokgung, including the tile roofs, the reading pavilion in the middle of its own pond, and the entertainment pavilion Gyeonghoeru. This pavilion was reconstructed in 1867 and is "the largest elevated pavilion in Korea", whatever that means. It also "manifests the Oriental philosophy of the universe. The three bays at the center of the elevated floor symbolize heaven, earth and man, and the twelve bays outside them symbolize the twelve months of the year [or thirteen in some years, you know]. The outermost 24 columns symbolize the 24 solar terms that mark particular astronomical or natural events of each year."
Gyeongbokgung has something I haven't seen at the other palaces I've been to in Seoul--kid-friendly activities. You can rent child (or adult) sized outfits for picture-taking ...
... trace woodcuts of palace guards in uniform ...
... or even pose behind one of those plywood cutout figures where you stick your face through.
Of course, yours truly would never do something so touristy, or as Gavin put it, "at the height of poor taste."
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