Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
History
The mighty walls of Korea's modern capital rose in 1394, when King Taejo, founder of the Joseon dynasty, settled
the government seat in the valley of Hanyang - later to become Seoul. At the new city's centre, King Taejo built
Gyeongbokgung, the Palace of Shining Happiness. Seoul's social geography has changed little since. The presiden-
tial seat of power - Cheongwadae (the Blue House) - rests behind Gyeongbokgung, with the capital's central axis
(Sejongno) spread before it.
