✈ Seoul, Korea: Changdeokgung Palace

Injeongjeon Palace Hall

HB and I visited early morning at Changdeokgung Palace and was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't crowded. There is usually a free guided tour in different languages (English, Korean, Chinese and Japanese) on offer. But we made an exception and decided to explore on our own at the public palace area only as we had limited time and wanted to maximize our planned itinerary on that day.

Changdeokgung ticket office

Donwahmun Main Gate with a two-storey pavilion-type wooden structure (outside view)

Donhwamun Gate (inside view)

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 and other royalties. This makes Changdeokgung the longest-serving royal residential palace. 

Injeongjeon Main Palace Hall

Injeongjeon Courtyard

a shop inside the palace

Changdeokgung Palace was mostly damaged because of the several times of fires and from both Japanese Invasion and colonial era. But it is the most well-preserved of the five remaining royal Joseon palaces and still has many of its original features. A particular virtue of Changdeokgung is the way its building blend into the surrounding landscape. The structure's design and beauty played a major role in earning the palace a registration as part of UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1997.

Korean Terraced Garden near Nakseonjae area

Entrance to Sangryangjeong Pavilion

one of the doors in the palace

Jinseonmun Gate

beautiful architectural details of Jinseomun Gate

Zelkova Tree

Regrettably, we were  not able to see the palace garden, referred to prior as Huwon, which is now known as "Biwon" or Secret Garden" tucked away behind the palace. This is considered as an excellent example of Korean garden design and is the only rear garden of any Korean palace. Please take note visitors are required to pay additional charge and need to join a mandatory guided tour here.

If you appreciate a quiet atmosphere, birds chirping and beautiful Korean architecture you will surely marvel at the variety of well-preserved old traditional buildings and pavilions.

The palace is closed on Mondays. For further details, please refer to Changdeokgung Palace website.


✿ Address: Changdeokgung Palace, Yulgokro 99 Jongno-gu, Seoul Republic of Korea
✿ How to get there:
Get on: Hongik Univ. (Line 2)
Transfer: Euljiro 3-gal (Line 2, Line3)
Get off: Anguk (Line 3)
After go out through Exit 3 of Anguk Station, Walk 5 minutes

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