Gyeongbok Palace, embodying the essence of Korean beauty [Photo Essay Contest]
The Korea JoongAng Daily hosted its first photo essay contest for elementary, middle and high school students on the theme: “Promote the beauty of Korea to foreign countries." The contest ran from October to November. Photos containing scenes of traditional culture, family love, places to see and tasty treats in Korea were submitted for the contest.
For people who participated but didn't win a prize:
Jiho Kim from Korean International School, Jeju campus submitted the following photo essay as a middle school-level entry.
Gyeongbok Palace, a landmark that has stood for 628 years, is not only our proud scientific achievement but also a world-renowned tourist hotspot that attracts more than five million tourists every year. Gyeongbok Palace is an iconic architecture that Koreans love the most, as it shows an excellent design, prides itself on its architectural technology, and represents modern Korean history.
Gyeongbok Palace has its distinctive elegance, which makes Gyeongbok Palace matchless. Its beauty comes from a variety of lines that consist of the exterior of the palace. Curves and straight lines are harmoniously constructed in roofs, outer walls, and bases to create a flawless surface. Also, every material that is used in this palace is carefully crafted in order to play a specific role while creating elegant curves and lines with their own natural shapes. This suffuses the palace with both natural and practical beauty. Because of Gyeongbok Palace’s unique beauty, it attracts more than five million tourists yearly, the most significant number of tourists compared to the number of people visiting other palaces in Korea.
In addition, Gyeongbok Palace is steeped in scientific knowledge. In order to represent the dignity of the Joseon Dynasty, it was designed with strict geometric space division and an orderly, symmetrical structure. The layout of buildings is also exquisitely designed, making sure all the buildings are constructed on a straight axis. Moreover, you can find numerous scientific designs in the palace that are meant to make it a more comfortable and durable place. For instance, a cycloid curve is used to make the roof line of the palace, which makes the raindrops fall from the roof on the shortest path. The Jojeong, the stone front yard of the Geunjeongjeon Hall, is designed with stones that are purposely arranged unevenly so that the glaring light can not cause diffused reflection, ensuring the comfort of those within.
Lastly, Gyeongbok Palace is regarded as a symbol of modern Korean history. It was constructed in 1395. In 1592, 200 years after Joseon was founded, the Japanese invaded Korea, and most of Gyeongbok Palace was burned down. For the next 270 years, Gyeongbok Palace was left unattended. The person who rebuilt Gyeongbokgung Palace was Heungseon Daewongun, King Gojong's father. Gwanghwamun, the main gate, was moved to the back of Gun Chunmun, the east gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace. When the building of the Joseon Government-General was demolished in 1995, Gyeongbokgung Palace began to be restored in earnest, reconstructing the heart of Seoul and giving the future generation a chance to see the 500-year history of the Joseon Dynasty.
Gyeongbok Palace combines the beauty of Korean architecture with scientific knowledge, making a modern landscape with a rich history. These values with various aspects also show the beauty of Korea and attract millions of tourists. Why don’t you join them too?
By Jiho Kim, Korean International School, Jeju campus
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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