경복궁 해태(해치)

 Haetae – The Legendary Guardian of Gyeongbokgung

As you explore Gyeongbokgung Palace, keep an eye out for a special mythical animal called Haetae, also known as Haechi.

Haetae is a legendary creature covered with scales and believed to possess the power of water. Because of this, people believed it could protect buildings from fire.

But Haetae does much more than that. It is believed to keep away evil spirits and bad luck while bringing good fortune, happiness, and peace. If it were a character in a video game, you could say it is a "max-level guardian" with every good power imaginable.

Today, Haetae is also the official symbol of the city of Seoul.

The most famous pair of Haetae statues stands in front of Gwanghwamun Gate, the main entrance to Gyeongbokgung Palace. They were placed there to guard the royal palace and protect it from fire and other disasters.

As you continue your visit, you can also find smaller Haetae carvings in several places inside the palace, including the stairs of Heungnyemun Gate, the stone terrace of Geunjeongjeon Hall, and the stairs of Jibokjae Hall.

See how many Haetae you can find during your visit. For hundreds of years, these legendary guardians have been watching over Gyeongbokgung and welcoming visitors from around the world.