SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) - With his son’s hand in his, Lee Bong-soo walked quietly through the grounds of Seoul’s royal palaces, taking in the scenes he had long wanted to share outside the pages of a textbook.
"I always wanted to take my son to a palace, but the opportunity never really came up," said Lee, a resident of Goyang. "My workplace and home are far apart, which made it even harder. Palaces are full of historic sites and interesting things to see. My son has read a lot about them, but never had the chance to see them in real life. I wanted to give him that opportunity."
Lee was among the roughly 1,500 participants, about 700 of them foreign nationals, who joined the 2025 Seoul Royal Palaces International Walk on Jun. 14. The event, co-hosted by Aju News Corporation and AJP, began at 8:40 a.m. with an opening ceremony and followed a 6.3-kilometer route through the heart of the capital.
Starting from the Uijeongbu Site of State Council Historic Plaza, participants walked past Gwanghwamun, Gyeongbokgung Palace, the rear gate of the former presidential compound, then continued through Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung palaces.
By 9 a.m., the plaza near Gwanghwamun had filled with eager walkers. A slight morning overcast gradually gave way to blue skies, lightening the mood as the crowd set off. The opening ceremony welcomed key figures including Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Aju News Corporation Chairman Kwak Young-kil, Aju Business Daily CEO Lim Kwu-jin, National Assembly member Kwak Sang-eon, Seoul Metropolitan Council Chair Choi Ho-jeong, council member Yoon Jong-bok, and Seoul Tourism Organization CEO Gil Ki-yeon.
Diplomatic guests included Fang Kun, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, Arman Narbayev, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Kazakhstan, and Naman Upadhyaya, First Secretary at the Embassy of India, underscoring the event's international character.
"This kind of walking event is really good for health," Mayor Oh said in his welcoming remarks. "Seoul will continue doing its best to create an environment where citizens can enjoy walking, exercise, and cycling." He added in English, "This is the best time for foreign tourists to visit Seoul. I hope you have a great experience here."
First Secretary Upadhyay emphasized the unique blend of history, culture, and health. "I hope everyone can walk through and experience Korea's heritage," he said. "As we walk the same paths once walked by the kings of Joseon, may we feel the richness of this cultural legacy."
Representing the Kazakhstan Embassy, Diplomatic Officer Dautov Bauyrzhan delivered a speech in fluent Korean, calling the event "a beautiful symbol of cultural connection" between Korea and Kazakhstan.
Deputy Chief Fang Kun noted: "I believe today's walk offers a great opportunity to appreciate the beauty of Korea's historic palaces. This event will also help foster better understanding and feelings between the Chinese and Korean people. I hope everyone enjoys today and I would love to join again next time."
The walk began at the Uijeongbu Site of State Council Historic Plaza, once home to Korea’s top governing body during the Joseon Dynasty. The site was excavated starting in 2016 and restored and reopened to the public in 2024 as a cultural heritage park.
The route's first landmark was Gyeongbokgung Palace. In early summer, its grounds were shaded by vibrant green trees that paired elegantly with the palace's ornate, painted architecture.
Lee Eun-hye, visiting from Mexico, shared her reason for joining: "I've lived in Seoul for a while, but I realized I’d never actually walked through the palaces like this. It feels great to enjoy it together with people from all over the world."
Lim Hyun-joo, head of Korean Studies at the Autonomous University of Nayarit in Mexico, joined while on a study visit to South Korea. "It was lucky that this event fit my schedule. I plan to show the certificate to my students and tell them all about Korea’s palaces. It’s been a meaningful way to gather experiences I can share back home."
Among the international participants was Frank, a French national. "I've never had the chance to visit any palaces before, but this event made it possible. A friend who works at Seoul City Hall recommended it. Everything was just perfect. Especially walking alongside people from so many countries."
Najifa, a French exchange student, said: "I'd been to Gyeongbokgung before, but this was my first time visiting the other palaces. It was a great opportunity for foreigners like me. I can confidently say the palaces are the best places I’ve seen in Korea."
Throughout the course, walkers, many wearing blue caps, could be seen stopping to take photos. At the rear gate of the former presidential office, many paused for commemorative snapshots. Others admired the tranquil beauty of Changdeokgung Palace and the charm of Changgyeonggung Palace, sharing laughs and conversations with family, friends, and fellow walkers.
Among them was Oh Seung-bok, 63, who registered on-site after arriving in Gwanghwamun with friends for a casual morning walk. "I don’t often get to visit the palaces even though I live in Seoul, so I’m happy to have had this chance," she said. "It took us about three and a half hours to walk the course at a relaxed pace. Gyeongbokgung was beautiful, but I found Changgyeonggung especially lovely. If it’s held again next year, I’ll definitely join."
At the end of the walk, returning to the starting point, Lee Bong-soo reflected on the day. "I’m glad my son had the chance to see the palaces in person and walk with people from different backgrounds. If there’s another event like this, we’ll definitely join again."
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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