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Changdeokgung (Palace)

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About

Changdeokgung is also known as Donggwol, the Eastern Palace, because of its location to the east of Gyeongbokgung. For 270 years, the palace was home to the Joseon government and was also the favored residence of many Joseon Dynasty kings. This makes Changdeokgung the longest-serving royal residential palace. Compared to other palaces, Changdeokgung is well-preserved and still has many of its original features. A particular virtue of Changdeokgung is the way its buildings blend into the surrounding landscape. The palace's rear garden, Huwon, is considered an excellent example of Korean garden design and is the only rear garden of any Korean palace. In 1997, Changdeokgung was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Visitors to Changdeokgung might also like to see the nearby Changgyeonggung (Palace) as well as the recently restored Naeuiwon (Royal infirmary) at the entrance to Changdeokgung.

Changdeokgung was built in 1405 by King Taejong (the third king of the Joseon Dynasty). In 1592 the main palace, Gyeongbokgung, was completely destroyed by fire during the Japanese invasion of Korea and Changdeokgung became the home of the Joseon court. For this reason Changdeokgung is the place which most represents the Joseon Dynasty in the popular imagination. Its status as a national symbol meant that it suffered deliberate damage by the Japanese during their occupation of Korea. For many years afterwards it was neglected until it was reconstructed and restored to its original state in 1991.


Huwon: a garden of natural beauty

Huwon is self-contained and occupies sixty percent of the Changdeokgung site. The palace buildings are situated on the ridge of Bugaksan (Mt.) and have very few artificial features in order to blend into their natural surroundings. In the center of Huwon is a large pond, Buyongji, along with Buyongjeong (Pavilion) and Juhapru (Pavilion). A cross-shaped roof and two supporting pillars rising from the pond make the design of Buyongjeong unique. It is said that King Jeongjo (the twenty-second king of the Joseon Dynasty) and his courtiers often enjoyed fishing here at Buyongjeong. In the past Juhapru housed a royal library and was a place where both king and courtiers studied and discussed politics. Eosumun (Gate), the entrance to Juhapru, has a symbolic meaning for kings and government officials because of its name which literally means “Fishes cannot live without water” but is usually understood as “The ruler should always put his people first.”

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  Buyongjeong
  
  
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  Juhapru

Ongnyucheon is a stream running through Huwon. The ongnyucheon area was particularly dear to many kings of the Joseon period. Standing next to ongnyucheon, small pavilions such as Soyojeong (Pavilion), Taegeukjeong (Pavilion), and Chunguijeong (Pavilion) create a wonderful view.

Soyoam, which stands in the middle of ongnyucheon, is formed from a rock with a rounded water channel carved into it and features a small waterfall. Kings and courtiers enjoyed drinking wine here from floating cups.

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  Ongnyucheon (Stream) Soyoam (Rock)
  
  
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  Ongnyucheon (Stream) Soyoam (Rock)

Main buildings

Injeongjeon is the throne hall of Changdeokgung. It was used for major state events including the coronation of new kings and receiving foreign envoys. The coronations of eight kings of the Joseon Dynasty were hosted there. Injeongjeon was built with Changdeokgung by King Taejong (the third king of the Joseon Dynasty) in 1405. Since then it has been destroyed and restored many times. The plum flower motif that can be seen on the ridge of the roof represented the Korean imperial family during the Korean Empire period (1897-1910).

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  Injeongjeon (Throne Hall)
  
  
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  Injeongjeon (Throne Hall)

▶ Geumcheongyo (Bridge)

Geumcheongyo is a bridge just inside the entrance to the palace. Although the palace has endured many wars and fires, Geumcheongyo has kept its original form, making it of great historical value.

Daejojeon is a private royal area surrounded by outbuildings. Because the Japanese annexation of Korea was decreed in Heangbokheon, one of Daejojeon's outbuildings, the place holds special historical significance.

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  Daejojeon (The King’s bedroom)
  
  
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  Heangbokheon (one of the palace buildings)

Visitors can choose between two tours of Changdeokgung: the general tour and the Huwon (Rear garden) tour. The general tour takes around 1 hour and the Huwon tour around 2 hours. Visitors on the general tour are admitted only to the palace, but are free to explore without a tour guide, although guided tours are available in English, Chinese and Japanese. For the Huwon tour, in order to preserve the garden, a tour guide is compulsory and there is access to only a limited number of areas. For Huwon tours there are scheduled admission times so be sure to check in advance to avoid disappointment.

General tour times

English 10:30, 14:30
Japanese 12:30
Chinese 16:00

Huwon tour times

English 11:30, 14:30
Chinese 12:30
Japanese 10:30, 13:30

Every spring, when the trees are in blossom, the plum tree garden in front of Nakseonjae opens for a photography competition.

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  Donhwamun (Gate), the main entrance to Changdeokgung
  
  
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  Yeonghwadang (Pavilion)
  
  
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  The front of Yeonghwadang
  
  
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  Jondeokjeong (Pavilion)
  
  
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  Ongnyucheon’in King Injo's own handwriting inscribed on Soyoam
  
  
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  Soyojeong (Pavilion)
  
  
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  Soyoam and Soyojeong
  
  
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  Taegeukjeong (Pavilion)
  
  
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  Chwigyujeong (Pavilion)
  
  
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  Nakseonjae (the Queen’s private residential area)
  
  
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  Injeongmun (Gate) and Sukjangmun (Gate)
  
  
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  Juhapru and Seohyanggak (Pavilion)