As we stepped out of our hotel onto the street, we were surprised to see the road packed with people and surrounded by police. While in the cab earlier, we had also noticed a few police buses, initially thought it was related to Armed Forces Day on 1 Oct.
The police were armed with gear and shield which felt unusual to us, something must be amiss.
It turned out there was a protest by the construction workers' wing of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (those with red band on their head), they were all making their way toward Sungnyemun Gate. Many police were activated to manage any potential disruptions. While it seemed like a regular occurrence in Seoul, it was quite an eye-opening experience for us.
We finally arrived at Deoksugung Palace at 4.30pm after 20 minute walk and observing the protest. I decided to visit this palace as it was within walking distance from our hotel, a convenient spot to explore on our first day.
There are five royal palaces in Seoul with Deoksugung Palace being the smallest among them. This historic site served as the residence of King Gojong, the last monarch of the Joseon Dynasty.
Deoksugung Palace is where tradition meets modernity with the centuries-old architecture set against the backdrop of modern buildings near City Hall.
Deoksugung Palace (德寿宫) means "Palace of Virtue and Longevity" in Mandarin, was renamed in 1907 with the hope for the emperor's long life and prosperity.
We stopped by CU Convenience Store two streets from our hotel to purchase water supply and a pack of cookies. I was so tired by the time I reached the hotel at 9.50pm.
My haul for the day.
It was a relaxing first day in Seoul as we got familiar with Myeongdong and the taxi app, exploring popular food spots along the way.
