VOL.93/2026.04

The Story of the Animals Guarding Gyeongbokgung Palace

2025.11.03

At the heart of Seoul, behind Gwanghwamun Gate, stands the palace that best represents Korea - Gyeongbokgung Palace. Built by King Taejo, founder of the Joseon Dynasty, it was the dynasty’s first royal palace and the political center of the nation. Its name, meaning “to embrace great blessings,” embodies the king’s wish for the country’s prosperity and his people’s well-being. Although it was destroyed during the Imjin War in the 16th century and later reconstructed in the late 19th century, the palace holds the scars and memories of Korea’s turbulent history.
After hanbok was chosen as the most impressive Korean fashion item in the previous issue, this month’s K-Book Trends voting event chose Gyeongbokgung Palace as the No. 1 palace representing Korea. Yet, many visitors remain unaware of the architectural significance and the hidden presence of various guardian animals within its grounds. More than a hundred animals - including Haechi (a mythical creature that distinguishes good from evil) that protects the palace, bonghwang (a mythological bird symbolizing luck and goodness, similar to the phoenix), and dragons - are hidden throughout the palace to guard it.

This month’s featured title, Korean Royal Palace: Gyeongbokgung (Wisdom House), is a historical fantasy novel set in the palace itself, centering on 73 animals hidden beneath bridges, at the edges of eaves, deep within ceilings, and along chimneys and stone walls. Among them are Haechi, who bites the unjust; a dragon with its mouth open to hold back fire by containing water; cheonrok (天祿), a unicorn-lion whose horn radiates five-colored light to ward off evil; and a giraffe and elephant guarding Gyeonghoeru Pavilion as symbols of peace and prosperity. Each creature carries its own meaning depending on its position and form. For instance, after the palace was rebuilt, a bronze dragon statue was placed in the pond at Hyangwonjeong (香遠亭) to ensure it would never again be engulfed by flames, while fish-shaped tosu (decorative roof tile) symbolizing fertility, were affixed to the eaves of Gangnyeongjeon Hall, the king’s residence, to wish for the royal family’s prosperity.
In addition, the book enhances the reading experience with delicate illustrations that capture the animals’ subtle expressions and movements, alongside detailed visual depictions of the palace’s architecture, layout, and structures. Most notably, by weaving mystery elements into the stories behind the buildings and their guardian animals, it transforms historical events that might otherwise feel rigid, into vivid, engaging narratives - inviting readers to understand them more clearly and to feel their cultural value and meaning more deeply. Through Gyeongbokgung Palace and its hidden animals, readers are encouraged to imagine the philosophy and ideals of the Joseon era and the beauty of the royal palace - to long for another walk through its courtyards and to look at Gyeongbokgung Palace anew, enriched by what they have learned.