Two structures of a palace from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), including the site where a Korean empress was killed by Japanese assassins, will be temporarily opened to the public later this month, officials said Monday.
Gyeonghoiru, a pavilion used to host banquets, and Geoncheonggung, a detached royal residence, will open Aug. 15, the anniversary of Korea's
liberation from Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945), the Cultural Heritage Administration said.
Tours of Gyeonghoiru, which overlooks a man-made pond, have been suspended since March 2008 for safety reasons.
Geongcheonggung, located north of the pond, was the residence of King Gojong and Empress Myeongseong. The empress was killed there in 1907 by the swords of assassins sent by Japan, which saw her as an impediment to its expansionist ambitions.
It will be the first time for the inside of this most secluded section of the palace to be made public.
The tours will be available three times a day until Oct. 31 for groups of 60 people who make reservations through the Internet, the heritage agency said.