▲ This photo of Geunjeongjeon Hall of Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul is provided by the Korea Heritage Service (KHS). (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Oct. 29 (Yonhap) — Public access to the terrace of Geunjeongjeon Hall, the main hall of Gyeongbok Palace, will remain restricted until Nov. 9, the Korea Heritage Service’s Royal Palaces and Tombs Center said Wednesday.

The restriction, initially set to end in October, was extended amid concerns over potential stone railing damage due to large crowds expected during the ongoing “Korea Grand Festival,” which offers free admission to Gyeongbok, Changdeok, Deoksu and Changgyeong Palaces, as well as Jongmyo Shrine and royal tombs.

▲ This photo of Geunjeongjeon Hall of Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul is provided by the Korea Heritage Service (KHS). (Yonhap)

“Because of the expected increase in visitors, we extended the restriction period to prevent damage to stone structures, including the railings,” an official said.

The terrace, known as a woldae, is an elevated stone platform built in front of important palace halls.

Geunjeongjeon, designated as a national treasure, was used for major royal ceremonies, including coronations, receptions for foreign envoys, and court banquets. The terrace is adorned with animal sculptures representing the twelve zodiac signs.

During the restriction period, visitors can view Geunjeongjeon and its terrace only from the main courtyard.

Meanwhile, the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center said the northern gate of Jongmyo Shrine will also be open to the public through Nov. 9 for the duration of the Korea Grand Festival.

Jongmyo, a Confucian shrine dedicated to the ancestral tablets of Joseon and Korean Empire royalty, strictly limited access to the northern gate during the Joseon Dynasty.

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