The first stage of a project to restore the Gyeongbok Palace has been completed.

The Joseon Dynasty palace was seriously damaged during Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, and the destroyed pavilions and buildings have been rebuilt over the past 20 years.

A traditional ritual involving prayer for the smooth procession of the remaining restoration was held at the site of the royal kitchen in the palace.

More than 250 structures will be gradually restored over the next 20 years.

Seventy-five percent of the original Gyeongbok Palace will be restored when the project is completed in 2030.