Three of the biggest ones: Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung and Changgyeongung are all in the same area, so it was easy to visit all three.
Some Koreans actually don't like how these palaces were restored. They feel that it's too commercial and looks like a movie set. (Well, this is where they shot a lot of the historical Korean novellas like "Jewel in the Palace" and "Queen Seon Deok", so it's technically a movie set.) In any case, these are breath taking "movie sets."
But coming from a foreigner with a fresh set of eyes, each of the palaces have a certain charm. While it isn't as grand or massive as the Forbidden City (which left me wide eyes and mouth agape after visiting it for the first time), it feels authentic. While I was inside, I could almost feel the King, Queen, Empress Dowager, Ministers and Court Ladies walking all over the palace grounds.
These visits also made me more interested in Korean culture and history. Good thing I was able to read some history books while in Seoul. And maybe I should buy boxed sets of "Jewel in the Palace" and "Queen Seon Deok" to brush up some more. It would be nice to read up and relive life behind these palace doors.
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