How To Stop by Deoksugung Palace In Seoul

Found directly throughout the avenue from Town Hall in downtown Seoul, Deoksugung is a person of the the very least visited palaces in the city. It was first utilised by King Seonjo and continued to have several utilizes all through the yrs. The advanced now homes two museums and it’s a person of the more cost-effective palaces offering no cost guided tours.

In this information, we’re going to demonstrate you the highlights of Deoksugung Palace including what you really should see for your visit.

Our Seoul Working experience

Mark sitting on the stone ways inside Deoksugung Palace

We invested 14 times exploring Seoul in March 2023. In the course of this journey, we personally toured Deoksugung Palace as properly as the 4 other royal palaces in Seoul. This is one particular of the lesser acknowledged palaces in the town, but we comprehensively liked checking out for the reason that the crowds were smaller sized.

Deoksugung is situated in a excellent community incredibly close to Seoul City Hall and there is so a great deal to do close by. We started off our working day at the palace with the modifying of the guard ceremony then continued to pay a visit to other points of interest in the exact region. Examine more about us.

Deoksugung Palace Background

This palace is surrounded by several town properties

Now registered as Historic Web page No. 124, Deoksugung Palace was originally utilized as a residential property for King Seonjo, the 14th King of the Joseon Dynasty as he took refuge from the Japanese invasion of 1592 when the other palaces have been wrecked.

In 1611, Deoksugung grew to become an formal royal palace in Korea when Prince Gwanghaegun (1575-1641) ascended to the throne, moved to Changdeokgung and modified the official title to Gyeongungung Palace.

When Emperor Gojong came to electricity above the Korean Empire in 1897, this advanced served as an imperial courtroom and palace. Western structures had been developed within just the grounds to showcase a blending of the standard and western society.

In 1907, the name was formally modified to Deoksugung Palace, this means the palace of virtuous longevity. Unfortunately, following the death of Emperor Gojong in 1919, the palace was appreciably downsized and it became a component of the Japanese Empire’s park improvement task.

However, in depth restoration jobs commenced in 2007 that have revitalized the palace into what we can see right now. Even though it has an inconstant historical past, we imagine this is 1 of the most attention-grabbing palace complexes in Seoul.

Customer Information and facts

Case in point of our royal palace move

The Deoksugung Palace is located throughout the street from City Corridor in coronary heart of Seoul. It’s open up every single day of the week from 9:00 to 21:00, but closed on Monday with past admission at 20:00.

Handle: 99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Place: Google Maps

Very best subway prevent: Town Corridor Station (line 1, exit 2 and line 2, exit 12)

Admission tickets for Deoksugung Palace cost 1,000 KRW for adults (US$ .75) or 800 KRW (US$ .60) with teams of 10 or more. People more than the age of 65 and kids beneath the age of 19 will get free entry into the palace. You can also go to for free of charge on Society Working day, which is the very last Wednesday of just about every month.

We imagine the least complicated way to buy tickets is on web-site, but if you prepare to check out all 5 of Seoul’s royal palaces, you need to look at the royal palace go. This is what we used to visit Deoksugung Palace.

The royal palace go expenses 10,000 KRW (US $7.53) and it’s valid for 3 months from the date of invest in. This pass can only be acquired from the web-sites outlined beneath:

Gyeongbokgung

Changdeokgung

Changgyeonggung

Deoksugung

Jongmyo Shrine

It is a fantastic option for individuals who want to pay a visit to quite a few palaces in the town simply because it will help you save you a tiny little bit of money. Moreover, it also saved us some time by not obtaining to hold out in a long ticket line.

Nevertheless, if you’re arranging to dress in a hanbok, you are going to obtain cost-free entry into the Deoksugung Palace so do not acquire a royal palace go.

Travel Tip: A hanbok is standard Korean clothes and it is commonly rented by the hour or day. You can also opt for to have your hair or make up completed as effectively.

Deoksugung Excursions

Kristen going for walks to the Deoksugung ticket booth

When we visited, we applied the absolutely free informational brochure to walk around the grounds and see the many properties. There are also various exhibits put through the compound or you can lease an audioguide at the major entrance for further details.

But if you want to master from a area guidebook, you can attend just one of the cost-free 60 moment guided tours made available in various languages. Here are the guided tour moments:

Chinese: 10:00, 14:30

English: 10:30, 13:30

Japanese: 9:30, 16:00

In addition to a tour of the grounds, you can also reserve a tour of the exhibition ground in the Daehan Empire History Museum. This is yet another no cost tour, but a booking is demanded and house is minimal. You are going to will need to insert your title to the waiting around listing at the museum entrance. The english tour starts at 11:50 or 14:50 and only foreigners are allowed.

If you just can’t go to in the course of the cost-free guided tour hours, you can guide a tour with a third celebration enterprise. Lots of of these tours include things like admission to the palace as effectively as some of the very best matters to do in Seoul.

Below are remarkably rated tour solutions:

Journey Suggestion: We tried to just take the Daehan Empire Record Museum tour, but there ended up previously also lots of people on the ready record. So if this is anything you’re interested in, include your title to the record as before long as you arrive.

10 Greatest Items To Do In Deoksugung Palace

There are lots of lovely properties you must see when viewing, but a emphasize is the shifting of the guard ceremony. So if you missed the ceremony at Gyeongbokgung, you can see it listed here.

We assume this palace intricate is exclusive since it attributes museums and European architecture you won’t find wherever else. Listed here is what to you should really see at Deoksugung Palace:

1.  Daehanmun Gate

Changing of the guard ceremony outside the house Daehanmun Gate

Renamed in 1906, the Daehanmun Gate is the principal entrance of Deoksugung Palace. The gate faces east and it is the only a person tale entrance gate in all of Seoul’s 5 royal palaces. The lovely calligraphy on the front of the gate was designed by Nam Jong-cheol, a superior rating formal through the reign of King Gojong.

The altering of the guard ceremony at Deoksugung Palace takes location in entrance of Daehanmun Gate. This ceremony dates again to the Joseon Dynasty when the guards who watched the royal palace gates transformed shifts.

We hugely advocate you test to observe the ceremony because you are going to see royal uniforms and weapons as properly as listen to standard instruments. If you’ve seen shifting of the guards at Buckingham Palace in London, it is really identical.

Vacation Tip: The Deoksugung Palace changing of the guard ceremony requires locations in front of Daehanmun Gate at 11:00, 14:00 and 15:30.

2. Geumcheonkyo Bridge Remnants

The empty pond within the complicated walls in close proximity to the Artwork Shop

The Geumcheonkyo Bridge was different from other bridges inside of Seoul’s royal palaces for the reason that there was no all-natural stream. The intricate was initially crafted as a personal residence, but at the time it officially grew to become a palace, an artificial waterway was dug and Geumcheonkyo Bridge was created above it.

Though you can no longer see a steam, the waterway has due to the fact been turned into a pond. When we frequented in March, the pond was fully dried up, but there was a great sitting location close by.

3. Junghwamun Gate

Mark strolling by means of Junghwamun Gate

The Junghwamun Gate sits directly in entrance of Junghwajeon, the primary throne hall of Deoksugung Palace. And as you can see in our photo previously mentioned, you are going to be in a position see the major hall by means of Junghwamun Gate.

We propose you approach the major throne corridor through Junghwamun Gate for a fantastic perspective of the town. The gate was rebuilt in 1906 after a fireplace ruined a lot of of the properties inside the grounds. But we imagine it is exciting how you can see the more mature architecture sitting proper up coming to modern day day structures.

4. Junghwajeon Corridor

Exterior check out of the principal throne corridor within Deoksugung Palace

Junghwajeon Corridor is the major throne hall of Deoksugung and it’s one of the most intriguing structures in the intricate. As you method the setting up, you can see various rectangular stones, recognised as pumgyeseoks, which were being employed by army officials to line up by corresponding rank during ceremonies.

When you get closer to the setting up, you will also see four mystical animals carved into the stone alongside the stairs which perform to enable defend the building. And once you make it to the large corridor, you are going to find a throne on a significant platform. A wooden folding display screen showcases models of the sun, moon and mountain guiding the throne.

This setting up was used by King Gojong to maintain formal functions. Program to shell out some time admiring this corridor. We cherished the intricately carved ceiling, but there is so considerably to get in. Junghwajeon Hall is properly acknowledged for it is beauty at night and the lights normally appear on following sunset. So if you transpire to go to later on in the working day, don’t miss this corridor.

Journey Tip: You’ll see pumgyeseoks at all of the other royal palaces in Seoul too.

5. Korean Art Museum

The entrance to the Korean MMCA

Deoksugung is special simply because it is the only palace in Seoul with an art museum. Inside the complex, you’ll find a department of the Korean Modern and Up to date Artwork Museum. However, you will have to pay out an extra rate to enter the museum because it’s not bundled in palace admission.

It’s open from 10:00 to 18:00 Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday as perfectly as 10:00 to 21:00 Wednesday and Saturday. The museum was closed for a private celebration when we visited, but if you want know to a lot more you can pay a visit to the official site here.

Journey Idea: Absolutely free admission is given to individuals beneath 24 or above 65 and undergraduate learners.

6. Seokjojeon Corridor

Kristen walking up the stone stairs to Seokjojeon Corridor

At first designed in 1910, Seokjojeon Corridor seems to be quite unique to the relaxation of Deoksugung Palace showcasing a Neo-Classicist type. It’s served several reasons including housing the National Museum of Korea. But right after restoration in 2014, it was reopened as the Daehan Empire Background Museum.

Seokjojeon Corridor was one of the 1st western structures in Korea and it represented King Gojong’s hope for sovereignty of the country. The constructing stands as a image for Korea’s modernization as effectively as incorporation of the western tradition.

On the floor floor, you can uncover no cost displays detailing the modernization of the Daehan Empire and encompassing community. This floor was initially applied by the attendants of the imperial household.

If you choose to guide the free guided tour, you are going to check out the first and second ground. These flooring reproduce the formal spaces of the Korean imperial family together with the bedchambers, analyze, residing area, grand dining room and reception room.

7. Jeukjodang Corridor

Exterior view of Jeukjodang Hall

The Jeukjodang Corridor is an important setting up within the Deoksugung Palace elaborate since King Sunjong ascended to the throne here. It was originally positioned slightly north of the developing we see right now. While the first setting up was burned in 1904, it was rebuilt in the subsequent yr.

The open up picket ground is found on the japanese aspect of the developing, but it was not large more than enough to be a living quarter.

8. Jeonggwanheon Hall

Tiny pathway leading to the gorgeous Jeonggwanheon Corridor

One particular of the most attention-grabbing properties within Deoksugung Palace is Jeonggwanheon Hall. Developed in 1990, this is the first instance of European architecture applied inside a royal palace in Seoul. But even although it capabilities a western type, it showcases Korean elements these kinds of as colorful florals and gold decorations.

The hall was at first made use of to hold functions and entertain visitors. Unfortunately, visitors are not permitted to enter Jeonggwanheon Hall, but you can simply observe it from the outside. It’s intriguing to observe both the internal and outer rows of picket columns are Romanesque in style and design.

Journey Idea: There is a smaller backyard straight up coming to this hall and it was filled with amazing cherry blossoms in spring. We spent about 20 minutes getting attractive shots in this place.

9. Jungmyeongjeon Hall

The Jungmyeongjeon Hall was initially constructed as an imperial library to keep beneficial textbooks and other vital objects, but it unfortunately turned the area of a tragic historic occasion. In November 1905, the Korean imperial governing administration was persuaded under risk of military pressure to signal the Japanese Protectorate Treaty by Imperial Japan.

Following it was signed, Emperor Gojong straight away tried to fight the injustice of the treaty, but he was forced to abdicate the throne since it took away Korea’s diplomatic sovereignty. During our check out, Jungmyeongjeon Hall was shut for renovation perform, but it includes 4 floors with exhibits about what occurred listed here.

10. Gojonguigil Pathway

Readers enjoying scrumptious waffles along Gojonguigil Pathway

The Gojonguigil Pathway is the well-known stone walkway on the outdoors of Deoksugung Palace. This is a wonderful pedestrian helpful one particular way road in the center of the town.

The formal avenue is recognized as Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway. There is a indicating that couples who walk down this pathway will finally break up so you superior think very carefully ahead of incorporating this to your Seoul itinerary!

Irrespective of the rumors, we walked the stone walkway and observed it to be really worth our time due to the fact it’s filled with artwork benches and ceramic tiles. You can also find the Seoul Museum of Artwork. If you have labored up an urge for food from going for walks close to the palace, there are numerous places to eat or snack choices together the pathway.

The Morgan Summary

As one of the lesser known palaces in Seoul, Deoksugung is exceptional due to the fact it features two museums and illustrations of western architecture. Visitors can also see shifting of the guard in entrance of Daehanmun Gate three times of working day.

So is Deoksugung Palace value visiting?

Sure, the Deoksugung Palace is truly worth traveling to simply because this is the smallest palace in Seoul and you can conveniently go to the grounds in about an hour. It’s also conveniently available and found in the vicinity of Seoul’s busiest downtown intersections specifically throughout from City Hall. We like this elaborate for the reason that it is a excellent place to see illustrations of historic architecture directly upcoming to fashionable working day properties.

This is a person of our beloved palaces in the metropolis simply because it attributes intriguing reveals about Seoul’s history and a wonderful pedestrian welcoming path up coming to the stone partitions. When in contrast to Gyeongbokgung, there were being not as lots of visitors carrying hanboks so this could be a great solution for people who want to keep away from the crowds.

Our Deoksugung Palace Shots

We loved our visit to the palace and took quite a few photos. In this article are a few of our favorites so you know particularly what to assume:

Kristen using a image with a vivid cherry blossom inside the palace

Big stone columns in the vicinity of the museum make for wonderful primary traces

Stone markers around the main throne corridor indicated official rank for officers

Free of charge reveals inside Seokjojeon Corridor (English translation is constrained)

Standpoint shot of Kristen on the lookout into the throne room

Deoksugung Palace in Seoul is surrounded by a lot of fashionable properties

Close up view of the stunning cherry blossoms in Seoul through spring

The intricate facts of a building inside Deoksugung

The throne within Junghwajeon Hall

Mark strolling all around the attractive palace properties

Kristen having a image in close proximity to the fountain in front of Seokjojeon Corridor

Amazing white cherry blossoms inside of Deoksugung Palace

Guests at the entrance to Seogeodang Hall

Vibrant properties and cherry blossoms await in Deoksugung Palace

Extra Seoul Palaces

Our Preferred Seoul Guides

Want additional Seoul articles? Head in excess of to our South Korea Vacation Guides to investigate the really ideal of Seoul and beyond.

We hope this tutorial that includes what to see at Deoksugung Palace aids with arranging your take a look at to Seoul!

Remember to let us know if you have any concerns about browsing this palace or Seoul in the feedback underneath.

Satisfied Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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Mark and Kristen Morgan are vacation, hiking and pictures gurus. In excess of the past 6 decades touring comprehensive time, they have explored more than 40 nations around the world and 30 US states.
Wherever Are Individuals Morgans has been featured in United states Now, Gestalten, Get Your Guideline, CityPASS and Condé Nast Traveler along with various other publications. Read additional about us.

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