After entering through the Sinmumun Gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the first building you may see is Jibokjae Hall. Its name means “a place for collecting precious treasure like jade,” which refers to the books stored in the hall. Emperor Gojong has collected over 40,000 books about Western science, machine technology, and the self-strengthening movement. The hall was also called the Royal Library.

After a big fire broke out in Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1876, Emperor Gojong moved to Changdeokgung Palace and returned to Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1885. He then mainly lived in the Geoncheonggung Palace building. In 1891, Hamnyeongjeon Hall was relocated from Changdeokgung Palace to Gyeongbokgung Palace. Jibokjae Hall and Hyepgildang Building were the separate halls of Hamnyeongjeon Hall in Changdeokgung Palace. Both were moved to the west side of Geoncheonggung Palace and used as a study and diplomatic space for receiving foreign envoys.

Jipbokjae Hall is also famous for its unique architecture. Different from other traditional royal hall buildings, it was constructed in the Qing Dynasty style, which incorporated western architectural style. From the outside, the Chinese characters on the signboard were written vertically instead of horizontally. Also, the walls connected with the other two buildings were built with bricks. Stepping into the hall, you can see the windows are round, and the ceiling decoration remained intact with a dragon at the center.

Currently, Jibokjae Hall is used as a library to serve its original purpose. Anyone who has a ticket to Gyeongbokgung Palace can enter the hall and read books. Oh…! Just a warm note. Remember to take off your shoes before entering the hall!