Gyeonggijeon Shrine

In the heart of Jeonju Hanok Village, beyond a red spiked gate, lies a shrine to the very start of the Joseon dynasty. Gyeonggijeon houses the royal portrait of King Taejo (Yi Seong-gye), who founded Joseon. Jeonju was the ancestral seat of Taejo's clan, the Jeonju Yi, which is why the dynasty gave this place special importance.

History: six centuries of guarding a portrait

In 1410 King Taejong enshrined portraits of Taejo in Jeonju, Gyeongju and Pyongyang. After several name changes, the Jeonju shrine received the name Gyeonggijeon in 1442, under King Sejong. Its buildings burned during the Japanese invasion of 1597 and were rebuilt in 1614. In 1872 a new copy of Taejo's portrait was painted and enshrined, and the complex was extensively repaired.

During Japanese rule the western part of the grounds and its annex buildings were demolished to build a Japanese elementary school, cutting the site roughly in half. Gyeonggijeon was designated a Historic Site in 1991, and its main hall became a Treasure in 2008.

What to see

• Main hall (Jeongjeon): the hall that holds Taejo's portrait. It stands on a high stone platform, and together with the worship hall in front it forms a layout similar to the T-shaped shrines at royal tombs. The tall inner columns reach 5.8 m.
• Royal Portrait Museum: a museum devoted to royal portraits in the north of the grounds. Taejo's portrait, continuing the line first enshrined in 1410, is described as the only surviving original image of the king, and it is on display here.
• Jeonju Sago: a reconstruction of the archive that held the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty.
• Jogyeongmyo: a shrine for the legendary founder of the Jeonju Yi clan, built in 1771.
• Bamboo grove and stone walls: the bamboo path in the grounds is a well-known drama location.

Good to know

• Records say that Yi Mun-yong, who was believed to be a daughter of Emperor Gojong, spent her last years in a building next to Jogyeongmyo, although her royal parentage remained disputed.
• Evening heritage programmes are sometimes held here; check the museum's notices for dates.

Nearby

• Jeondong Cathedral: the red-brick church across the street from the main gate.
• Omokdae: a hill on the eastern edge of the Hanok Village where Yi Seong-gye is said to have held a victory feast after defeating Japanese raiders. It continues Taejo's story nicely.
• Pungnammun and Jeonju Hyanggyo: the south gate of the old walled town and the Joseon-era Confucian school are both within walking distance.

Tripto tips

• Opening hours: March–May and September–October 09:00–19:00, June–August 09:00–20:00, November–February 09:00–18:00. Last entry is one hour before closing.
• Admission: adults KRW 3,000, youth and soldiers KRW 2,000, children KRW 1,000. The ticket includes the Royal Portrait Museum. Entry is free on the last Wednesday of each month.
• Works in progress: repainting of the main hall's dancheong decoration began in March 2026, so access to the main hall area may be restricted. Check the museum's notices before you go.
• Time needed: about 1 hour including the museum. Combine it with Jeondong Cathedral across the street.