This is the back garden of Gyeongbokgung. The pagoda in the middle of the small pond is called Hyangwonjeong. It means ‘the fragrance spreads far and wide.’ This area was created and decorated by King Gojong and Queen Myeongseong. In contrast to the ornate and dignified Gyeonghoeru, Hyangwonjeong has a cozier and simpler atmosphere. While Gyeonghoeru was used for state ceremonies and banquets, Hyangwonjeong was a place for the royal family to relax. You will see a house to the north across from Hyangwonjeong. King Gojong and Queen Myeongseong lived together in this house. They built a bridge leading to the island in the middle of the pond; it was used to reach the pagoda as well as a walking path. The surface of the pond is especially calm. And the pond clearly reflects the scenery around it, just as though you were looking into a mirror. If you would like to know the secret to the pond’s serene aspect, go to the stream located at a ten o’clock angle from the pond. You will see a strange-looking device. The cold water which comes from the mountain behind the pond flows into this device and down into the pond after circulating inside it. There are no waves as the cold water comes in and thus the surface of the pond is always smooth. This pond was also the site of the first electrical supply in Joseon. King Gojong, who was always curious about inventions in developed countries, discovered the existence of electricity. He requested Thomas Edison’s company in the U.S. to send to Joseon an electrical generator and a technician to install it. The first electric lights were lit by using the water from this very pond. On the day of the first lighting in 1887, King Gojong and Queen Myeongseong smiled at each other under the bright lights, believing that the future of Joseon would be just as bright.