Where History Meets K‑Pop: BTS’s Gwanghwamun Comeback and a Royal Seoul Itinerary

 Hi, Friends 👋

 You’ve heard the news—BTS is finally making a comeback, right? 

They’re set to perform at Gwanghwamun Square, and it’s going to be streamed live on Netflix. Today I stopped by Gyeongbokgung, the royal palace, and Gwanghwamun Square. 💓💓💓

Then, how to get to Gyeongbokgung Palace?

• By subway (easiest):
  • Line 3 → Gyeongbokgung Station. Take Exit 5 and you’ll pop out right by the palace gate in about 2–3 minutes.
  • Line 5 → Gwanghwamun Station. Take Exit 2, walk straight 8–10 minutes toward the palace (you’ll pass Gwanghwamun Square).
• By bus:
  • Search “Gyeongbokgung Palace” or “Gwanghwamun” in your map app; many blue/green buses stop along Sajik‑ro and Sejong‑daero within a 3–5 minute walk.
• By taxi:
  • Tell the driver “Gyeongbokgung” (경복궁). Ask to be dropped at Gwanghwamun Gate for the main entrance.

 I took the subway. As soon as you get off, you can feel the unique atmosphere of the area. If you head out Exit 5, you can go straight to Gyeongbokgung and also check out the National Palace Museum and the National Folk Museum. If you take Exit 4, you can see Cheong Wa Dae, where the Korean president resides. 😘😘

 Follow the Media Art Passage that connects to the Palace Museum and step out of the subway—and you’ll walk right into an open plaza with Gyeongbokgung waiting for you.

 It was pretty cold, but there were tons of tourists. I happened to catch the guard-changing ceremony at the main gate. The announcements are in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese, so it’s helpful to listen along. 💂💂💂

 After the ceremony, you can take photos with the guards like this—it’s a fun little bonus. Oh, and do you know why so many tourists are wearing hanbok? If you wear hanbok, your entry is free. The Gyeongbokgung ticket is around 3,000 KRW, so renting a pretty hanbok and taking photos around the palace is totally worth it. 💝💝

 If you cross the main road with Gwanghwamun Gate and the haetae statues behind you, you’ll walk straight into Gwanghwamun Square.

 Around Gwanghwamun Square, you’ve got the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. Embassy, and several major media buildings—so it’s basically the heart of Korea’s administration. Seeing the wide‑open square together with the palace gives the area a totally different vibe. 👍👍👍

 And you’ll see the statue of King Sejong, one of the greatest kings in Korean history. He’s best known for creating Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, and there are displays of various inventions showcased around him.

 In front of King Sejong’s statue, there’s another statue—Admiral Lee Sun-sin, a legendary general from a later era. He’s the hero who defended Korea during Japan’s invasions, and many of his famous quotes have been passed down through his war diary. Right next to the statue, you can read his sayings in both Korean and English.

 Ahead of that, there’s a media‑facade walkway, and the area is surrounded by sleek office buildings. Since the space is so open, it feels really refreshing just to be there. And a fun detail: all the restaurant signs around Gwanghwamun Square are unified in Hangeul. I highly recommend enjoying Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun Square together. 💑💑