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Denmark's Queen Margrethe II puts on her shoes as she visits the Biwon garden in the Changdeok Palace in Seoul on Wednesday./REUTERS
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Queen Margrethe II of Denmark was enchanted by a traditional Korean garden during a visit to Changdeok Palace on Wednesday.
Following a press conference at the palace, the queen toured the grounds including Biwon or the Secret Garden for nearly an hour. She found the garden fascinating, she said, and it seems to live up to its name as it looks as if it holds many secrets.
According to a tour guide, the queen appreciated the way the palace was designed in harmony with its natural surroundings, a quality not found in many European palaces, and called it "fantastic", "attractive" and "beautiful."
She appeared especially interested in traditional decorations like dancheong ornamental patterns, munsal lattice door patterns, and the design of legendary bird bongwhang.
Seeing stones marking the ranks of government officials during the Chosun Dynasty in Injeongjeon, Queen Margrethe II jokingly told her entourage members to line up according to their ranks.
The queen said her country is very interested in Korea and she hoped her visit will facilitate trade and friendly relations between the two nations.
Meanwhile, due to sudden illness the queen's husband Prince Henrik left Korea on Wednesday, a day earlier than scheduled. The queen has also canceled her plan to visit Gyeongju and Ahndong on Friday and will leave Korea on Thursday.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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