Changdeokgung Palace

Changdeokgung Palace, a royal palace in harmony with nature

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Planning the visit

Changdeokgung Palace is stop 4 of 9 on the Royalty Route.

You will find the stamp at the Sarang at Donggwolmaru inside the Changdeokgung Palace.

Admission is charged: Adults KRW 3,000 (free admission for visitors wearing Hanbok outfits).

The two closest stamp points are Jongmyo Shrine, 0.8 km away, and Gyeongbokgung Palace at 1.4 km. All three fit into one day.

Details

Address: 99, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Stamp zone: Sarang at Donggwolmaru inside the Changdeokgung Palace
Hours: February~May: 09:00~18:00 June~August: 09:00~18:30 September~October: 09:00~18:00 November~January: 09:00~17:30 (Last admission 1 hour before closing / Closed every Monday)
Admission: Adults KRW 3,000 (free admission for visitors wearing Hanbok outfits)
Phone: 02-3668-2300
Website: www.cdg.go.kr
Coordinates: 37.58239, 126.99170

What the campaign says about it

Built in 1405 CE (5th year of King Taejong), Changdeokgung Palace is its own separate palace. Unfortunately, the Palace was burned down along with Gyeongbokgung and Changgyeonggung during the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592 CE. Among the three royal palaces, Changdeokgung Palace was the first to be rebuilt. It served as the center of the royal court until Gyeongbokgung Palace was rebuilt later on. While the buildings of Gyeongbokgung Palace feature straight lines and look more rigid in layout, Changdeokgung Palace has free-flowing lines, and structures were built in places that fit the natural topography. In particular, the royal garden, Huwon, preserves the natural landscape particularly well, making the buildings at Changdeokgung Palace look like part of the landscape. This reflects the unique principles and culture of Korean architecture, which valued harmony with nature. Changdeokgung Palace has Oejeon Hall, where the king and his advisors discussed government affairs, and Naejeon Hall, which served as the living space of the royal family. Donhwamun Gate (treasure) of Changdeokgung Palace, the Palace’s main gate that gives people access to Oejeon Hall, is the oldest building in Changdeokgung Palace. Meanwhile, Injeongjeon Hall (treasure), which was named in hopes that the monarchs of Joseon would be benevolent in their rule, hosted important national ceremonies such as coronation ceremonies and weddings. It was also used to name the crown prince or receive foreign dignitaries. From the outside, the Hall looks like it has two floors, but it actually has only one floor. Inside Injeongjeon Hall has a beautiful ceiling and an impressive folding screen called Ilwol Oakdo. If you walk up along the wall that borders Changgyeonggung Palace, you will arrive at Buyongji Temple located near the entrance to Huwon garden. Among the various ponds in Changdeokgung, Huwon has the largest pond. Designed to be more simple and modest on the north side and splendid on the south side, this unique building is considered a prime example of Korean pavilions. On the hill across from Buyongji Pond is a two-story pavilion called Changdeokgung Juhapnu (treasure). Built in 1776 CE (1st year of King Jeongjo), Juhapnu was used for lectures and classes. The first floor served as the Gyujanggak (royal library), while the second floor was a reading room where people could peruse books with a magnificent view of the Palace. The Donhwamun Gate of Changdeokgung is the Palace's main gate. The word “Donhwa” is from the Doctrine of the Mean. Here, it was used to mean “The benevolent king enlightens and lives in harmony with the people.” Donhwamun Gate is the oldest wooden gate structure among the main gates of royal palaces that remain to this day. It was built in May 1412 CE, then repaired in 1609 CE (1st year of Gwanghaegun). Injeongjeon Hall of Changdeokgung Palace is the main hall of Changdeokgung Palace. “Injeong” means “benevolent rule,” and it served as the main hall where the king discussed policies with his advisors at Changdeokgung Palace. Buyongjeong Pavilion at Changdeokgung Palace - Sitting on the southern side of the Buyongji Pond, Buyongjeong Pavilion is one of the best examples of a traditional pavilion built on the banks of a pond. According to the Palace’s journals, the Pavilion was originally called the Taeksuje (built in 1707 CE, 33rd year of King Sukjong). King Jeongjo, however, renamed the Pavilion Buyongjeong. Juhapnu is located on the northern end of Huwon Garden at Changdeokgung Palace. It is a two-story building built in 1776 CE (1st year of King Jeongjo) to safe keep the Eoje and Eopil. It became the cradle of King Jeongjo's policies and reforms, and it also inspired a renaissance of literature and art during the mid-Joseon Dynasty period. It is an important place frequented by talented individuals, and it used to store the Eoje, Eopil, Eojin, and Injang of King Jeongjo.

Quoted from the Visit Korean Heritage Campaign.

Getting there

Get off at Anguk Station on subway line no. 3 → Take exit no. 3 and walk for 6 minutes

Photographs

Photographs supplied by the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation.