집옥재

Jibokjae is a pavilion within the palace grounds built with traditional Korean wooden architecture featuring curved roofs and geometric patterns on doors and windows. The building contains multiple rooms arranged for specific scholarly purposes and daily use.

The pavilion was built in 1891 by King Gojong as his personal library and study space during the late Joseon Dynasty. It was constructed during a period when the Korean court was responding to changing circumstances.

The name refers to a royal study space where traditional furniture arrangements reflect how scholars worked during the late Joseon period. You can observe the layout of reading and writing areas that shaped intellectual life at court.

The pavilion is located inside the palace grounds and is reached as part of visiting the larger site. Morning visits tend to be less crowded than afternoon times.

The building blends Korean and Chinese architectural elements, reflecting cultural exchange from that period. This style mixing was a deliberate choice for royal buildings at the time.