Seoul's Seocho-gu, led by District Mayor Jeon Seong-su, has partnered with the Institute for the Translation of Korean Classics to run a humanities lecture series on Joseon history and culture at Seocho-gu Yangjae Library. Titled "Reading Joseon Life and Power Through Its Palaces," the program runs in three parts from Sept. 3 through Nov. 28.
The series was selected for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korean Library Association's 2026 "Humanities on the Road" project. It examines Joseon history and power through the lens of the royal palace, tracing the lives of the people who inhabited those spaces.
A defining feature of the program is that it goes beyond lectures drawn from classical texts. Participants will visit Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung in person, connecting what they have learned to the actual historical spaces.
The series unfolds as a three-stage journey into the Joseon palace. Part 1, "Understanding the Joseon Palace," begins Sept. 3 and explores the meaning of the palace as a political space through its history, royal authority and diplomacy.
On Oct. 1, participants will visit Gyeongbokgung to experience firsthand the history and significance of the Joseon palace covered in the lectures.
Part 2, "Lives of the Palace People," continues in October, examining the daily lives of court officials, palace workers and the king himself — including his routines and movements. A visit to Changdeokgung will follow, connecting the stories from the lectures to the actual palace grounds.
The final installment, Part 3, "King Sejong and the People," broadens the scope beyond the king and the palace to Joseon society as a whole, incorporating the perspective of ordinary subjects. The series concludes Nov. 28 with a session titled "The King as Seen by the People History Left Unrecorded," revisiting Joseon society through the eyes of those whose voices were obscured by the official royal record.
Each of the three parts is open to 20 adults, with registration handled through the Yangjae Library website on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign-ups for Part 1 opened Thursday, and registration for Parts 2 and 3 will open two weeks before each part's first session. For more information, contact Seocho-gu Yangjae Library or visit its website.
"I hope this program gives residents a special experience — seeing the history they have read about in classical texts come to life before their eyes, and deepening their understanding of our country's history and culture," District Mayor Jeon said.
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