There is much that can be said about Korea's culture. After declaring independence from Japan in 1950, South Korea quickly established itself as a country that was both economically and culturally rich. Between 1910 and 1945, Korea had been under Japanese rule. Since independence, Korea has constructed its own identity, using historical buildings and monuments to promote this vision.
One of my stops was Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main palace of Korea's Joseon Dynasty. The name translates to "Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven." Boasting over 4 million square feet of space and over 5 thousand rooms, to call Gyeongbokgung "big" is an understatement. Within the palace, plenty of Korean motifs can be found, one of which being the five-toed-dragon, which could only used in reference to the king and could not, therefore, be placed anywhere outside the palace walls.
While The changing of the guard may be a sight to see outside of Buckingham Palace, the movement of the guards at Gyeongbokgung also left me in awe. Their routine accompanied by the sound of drums being played demanded attention from anyone who was watching, and added to the overall beauty of the palace.
