Gyeongbok Palace Ruins Unearthed

Ruins of part of Gyeongbok Palace dating back 600 years ago have been unearthed under a road near Gwanghwamun, the main gate of the palace. The ruins are so well preserved that they are reminiscent of those of Pompeii.

The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage under the Cultural Heritage Administration, which has been excavating ruins in this area, gave a briefing on the excavation site on Tuesday afternoon. The institute said it unearthed ruins of a wall that stood between Gwanghwamun and Dongsipjagak tower, of Yongseongmun and Hyeopsaengmun gates inside the palace walls between Gwanghwamun and Heungryemun gates, and of a building burned down during the Japanese invasion in the late 16th century.
Among the ruins, foundation stones of the wall, between Gwanghwamun gate and Dongsipjagak tower to the east of the gate had been preserved almost in perfect condition. The wall was some 168 m long and 2.9 to 3.2 m wide. Two of the three layers of foundation stones were probably laid in the 14th century during the reign of King Taejo, the founder of the Chosun Dynasty, and the other in 1860 during the reign of King Gojong.

The wall that stood on the stones was demolished by the Japanese colonial rulers when they built the Japanese government-general. Its ruins were covered with dirt and quite a different kind of fence was built on it.

The ruins of Yongseongmun gate in the west of the inner wall and of Hyeopsaengmun gate in the east were also unearthed. The site of a building was excavated under the ruins of the wall between the gates. The building, whose foundation stones are well preserved, was probably built before the Japanese invasion in the 16th century. It would have been a large symmetrical building, 11.2 m long from east to west and at least 50 m long from south to north. It appears the building was used as an east-west cloister that was built when the palace was dedicated and was used as a waiting place for the royal court officials.