Gyeongbokgung, South Korea’s former royal palace in Seoul, was the home of the country’s last dynasty. Now, the non-profit Arumjigi Foundation is working with the nation’s top artisans to restore its historic furnishings of the Joseon dynasty.

Seoul

Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul has become the site of a detailed restoration project focused on relics from South Korea’s Joseon dynasty, which ruled for over 500 years. The initiative, led by the Rungjigi Foundation, brought together leading artisans to recreate furnishings and artifacts, allowing visitors to experience the historical lifestyle of the palace.

The artisans studied original pieces at the palace museum and used traditional materials, such as Chuchil red lacquer, to reproduce items like the king’s foldable chair and royal document boxes. The restoration highlights the values, scientific advancements, and aesthetics of the Joseon era, reflecting the cultural significance of the palace and its role in Korean history.

South Korea’s top artisans restore relics of the nation’s last dynasty

Gyeongbok Palace, in the heart of Seoul, offers a glimpse into the legacy of South Korea's last dynasty. The Joseon dynasty started in 1392 and lasted for over 500 years. Joseon kings traditionally worked from this hall, Sajeongjeon. In 2024, the space was meticulously recreated by a collection of Korea's top artisans, led by the non-profit Rungjigi Foundation. We felt it was essential to recreate the furnishings to truly experience the lifestyle and history of the palace. We invited the artisans to the palace museum to see and touch the original pieces. In Korean culture, Chuchil is a type of red lacquer that symbolizes the royal family's influence and wealth, as seen on this document box and this box designed to carry the royal seal of the king. Five artisans worked together to recreate this foldable chair for the king, and everything in the hall features royal symbols that represent longevity. Palaces weren't just ordinary buildings. They reflected shared values upheld by everyone, including the king. The palace blended these values with the most advanced science and technology, and aesthetics of the era, to function.

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