Key Facts
- Hangul: 경복궁; Revised Romanization: gyeongbokgung; spoken form [gyeong-bok-kkung]
- Part of speech: proper noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 景福宮 (景 grand + 福 blessing + 宮 palace)
- Register: Proper noun; the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty in Seoul.
Gyeongbokgung in Korean: What Does 경복궁 Mean?
경복궁 is a proper noun: the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty, in central Seoul. The last syllable 궁 means "palace", and it ends the names of the other Seoul palaces too, such as 창덕궁.
How Do You Pronounce 경복궁?
The standard pronunciation is [gyeong-bok-kkung]. After the final ㄱ of 복, the ㄱ that starts 궁 is tensed to kk. This is the pronunciation rule the mistake section covers.
Example Sentences with 경복궁
경복궁에 가고 싶어요.
Gyeongbokgunge gago sipeoyo.
I want to go to Gyeongbokgung.
A wish sentence. 가고 싶어요 means "want to go", and 에 marks the destination.
경복궁은 서울에 있어요.
Gyeongbokgungeun seoure isseoyo.
Gyeongbokgung is in Seoul.
A location statement with 서울에 있어요 for "is in Seoul".
주말에 경복궁을 구경했어요.
Jumare gyeongbokgungeul gugyeonghaesseoyo.
I toured Gyeongbokgung on the weekend.
A weekend past tense. 구경했어요 means "toured" or "looked around".
Common Phrases and Collocations
These collocations come from a visit: admission, the gate guards and the night opening. 수문장 are the royal gatekeepers, whose changing-of-the-guard ceremony draws crowds at the main gate.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 경복궁 입장 | Gyeongbokgung admission |
| 경복궁 수문장 | royal gate guards (the changing of the guard) |
| 경복궁 야간 개장 | night opening |
The Mistake to Avoid
Learners follow the romanization and give 궁 a soft g.
Wrong: [gyeong-bok-gung]
Correct: [gyeong-bok-kkung]: after the final ㄱ of 복, the ㄱ of 궁 is tensed
경복궁 Compared with Similar Words
창덕궁 is Changdeokgung, another Seoul palace. 궁 on its own just means "palace".
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 경복궁 | Gyeongbokgung Palace | This page's word |
| 창덕궁 | Changdeokgung | Changdeokgung, another Seoul palace |
| 궁 | palace | palace |
Where Does the Word Come From?
경복궁 is Sino-Korean, written 景福宮 (景 grand + 福 blessing + 宮 palace), so the name carries a sense of grand blessing.
Cultural Note
Visitors in hanbok get free admission to Gyeongbokgung. The official hanbok admission guide explains which clothing combinations qualify.
At the Palace: Finding the Ticket Office
A visitor has reached the palace area but needs the entrance and ticket office. The guide gives directions using polite endings. 경복궁 stays the same whether you speak to a friend or a member of staff.
Visitor
경복궁 입구가 어디예요?
Gyeongbokgung ipguga eodiyeyo?
Where is the entrance to Gyeongbokgung?
Guide
저쪽에 있어요.
Jeojjoge isseoyo.
It is over there.
Visitor
표는 어디에서 사요?
Pyoneun eodieseo sayo?
Where do I buy tickets?
Guide
매표소에서 사세요.
Maepyosoeseo saseyo.
Please buy them at the ticket office.
입구 means entrance, while 매표소 means ticket office. The first question asks where to enter; the third asks where to buy a ticket. Those places can have separate signs, so knowing both words helps you follow the answer. 저쪽 means “over there” and normally comes with a gesture.
What Do Palace Notices Tell You?
경복궁 appears on maps, direction signs, travel programs and museum displays. A transport sign saying 경복궁역 names Gyeongbokgung Station: 역 means station. Reaching the station and reaching the palace entrance are separate steps, so listen for 입구 when asking for the final direction.
At the palace, 관람 means viewing or visiting a cultural site. 관람 시간 labels visiting hours, and 관람 안내 introduces visitor information. These are compact notice headings. You can recognize them without expecting the full polite sentences used by staff.
표 means a ticket, while 매표소 names the place selling it. A visitor asking for the ticket office needs the location, rather than a translation of the ticket price.
입장 is entering or admission; 입장료 is the admission fee. A board with 입장료 concerns payment, while an arrow beside 입구 concerns direction. Keep that distinction when scanning a sign quickly. The shared first syllable does not make the two words equivalent.
Which Phrases Help You Describe a Visit?
경복궁을 구경하다 means to look around Gyeongbokgung. 구경하다 suits an ordinary outing: you walk around and see the grounds. 경복궁을 관람하다 describes visiting or viewing the site in a more formal way, as a guide or visitor notice might put it. Neither phrase means you work at the palace.
경복궁 야간 개장 literally means the palace's nighttime opening. It refers to an opening for evening visits, rather than a permanent description of the palace. The phrase alone gives no date, booking arrangement or admission time; those details belong in the event notice.
경복궁 수문장 names the palace gate guards. If a listing adds 교대 의식, it is naming the changing-of-the-guard ceremony. A person, an activity and a ticket category can all follow 경복궁 in a heading. Look at the final noun to find out what the heading actually offers.
For your own plans, 경복궁에 가다 puts the palace after the destination marker 에. For an activity on the grounds, 경복궁에서 사진을 찍다 means to take photos at Gyeongbokgung. 에서 marks where the activity happens. This is why simply replacing every English “at” with 에 can produce the wrong sentence.
Useful Words around the Palace
| Korean | Meaning | What it helps you identify |
|---|---|---|
| 궁궐 | palace | A general word for a royal palace complex. |
| 입구 | entrance | The way into the grounds. |
| 출구 | exit | The way out after your visit. |
| 매표소 | ticket office | The place to ask about or buy tickets. |
| 관람객 | visitor / spectator | People visiting the site. |
The palaces and history vocabulary lesson develops this set. For the clothing mentioned in the admission note, see 한복, traditional Korean clothing.
Quick Self-Test
- What does 역 add to 경복궁역?
- Which sign points toward an entrance: 입구 or 입장료?
- Does 야간 개장 by itself tell you the date of an evening opening?
Show answers
- It means station: Gyeongbokgung Station.
- 입구. 입장료 means admission fee.
- No. Read the event notice for the date and visiting arrangements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "Gyeongbokgung" in Korean?
Say 경복궁 (gyeongbokgung).
How is it pronounced?
The spoken form is [gyeong-bok-kkung], with a tensed final syllable.
What does 궁 mean?
It means palace.
Is there a discount for hanbok?
Yes. Visitors wearing hanbok get free admission.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: culture traditional vocabulary groups 경복궁 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add it to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- A related landmark is the Han River.