Dome

Unit of relieving guards with flags marches from the side gate to the Heungnyemun gate courtyard (Second Inner Gate); Gyeongbokgung served as the home of kings of the Joseon [Chosŏn (medieval to modern) also known as Yi] dynasty. In the early 20th century, much of the palace was systematically destroyed (all but 10 buildings) by Imperial Japan. Since the 1990s, the walled palace complex is gradually being reconstructed to its original form; fifty years of rebuilding is planned. The royal changing of the guard ceremony (a recreation in historic dress held since 1996) is held in front of the main gate every hour from 10:00 to 15:00; it is a popular tourist attraction. The reenactment was created from official records beginning in 1429 describing the ceremony of the royal guards called the Wanggung Sumunjang. The guard includes musicians playing historic Korean musical instruments. Source: Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page (accessed 7/2/2015)