National Palace Museum

About

Walking along Sejong-daero, the shadow of a hanok roof falls over the museum's red tower. With every step up the stone stairs, the breath of the old royal court seems to seep into the scenery. Pausing for a moment beneath a bright yellow Taegukgi, one senses that the fragrance of the Joseon royal family still fills the space. Whether in the off season or at the height of visitor traffic, the footsteps of visitors never seem to stray far from this long history and its delicate court attire. The lighting that seems to cut across the hall keeps its stillness unbroken, as if drawn from a page of classical poetry and painting. The royal seals of the Joseon court and King Jeongjo's personal letters seem to let time flow past without ever forgetting their original purpose.