Lost incense burner lids at Gyeongbok Palace recreated, put on public display

연합뉴스 / 2025-12-23 15:40:10

▲ This photo of the incense burner at Geunjeongjeon Hall in Gyeongbok Palace is provided by the Korea Heritage Service on Dec. 23, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) -- The Korea Heritage Service said Tuesday it has recreated two missing lids of the incense burners at Geunjeongjeon Hall in Gyeongbok Palace and will place them on the burners for permanent public viewing starting Wednesday.

The Geunjeongjeon incense burners are royal court artifacts that visually embody the authority of the Joseon Dynasty. Two identical burners in size and form were originally placed side by side on either side of Geunjeongjeon, the palace’s main throne hall.

They are believed to have been cast in 1866, during the reconstruction of Gyeongbok Palace in the third year of King Gojong’s reign, by melting down a large bell that had stood west of Gwanghwamun Gate.

Each incense burner was originally composed of a tripod cauldron-shaped body with two handles and three legs, topped with a lid modeled after a dragon. However, as only the bodies were fixed to their stone bases, both lids were eventually lost.

The heritage agency estimates that the lids on both burners went missing around 1961-1962.

The Gyeongbok Palace Management Office pursued the reproduction project based on advice from a panel of experts in related fields. The replicas were crafted with the participation of Won Kwang-sik, a master holder of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage of cast iron craftsmanship, and his trainee Won Cheon-su.

The Geunjeongjeon incense burners, now complete with the two recreated lids, will be available for regular viewing by visitors to Gyeongbok Palace.