Seoul photo spot

Deoksugung Palace

History · Jung-gu

About this place

Deoksugung was the imperial palace of the Korean Empire proclaimed in 1897, and was formerly called Gyeongungung. It began as the residence of Grand Prince Wolsan, elder brother of King Seongjong, served as a temporary palace after the Japanese invasions of the 1590s, became a full palace in 1611, and took its present name in 1907. A major fire in 1904 and the Japanese colonial period saw much of it dismantled, so the grounds today are only a fraction of the original. That history is also why Deoksugung is the one palace where Western-style stone buildings and traditional wooden halls stand side by side. Sitting in the middle of downtown Seoul, it is attractive in every season and is the only palace open until 21:00, so it can be walked after the evening lighting comes on. The royal guard changing ceremony takes place in front of Daehanmun Gate twice a day except Mondays, and the stone-wall road wrapping the palace runs on into the Jeong-dong quarter as one of Seoul's best-known city walks.

Good to know

Address: 99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
Hours: Daily 09:00-21:00
Closed Mon
Open 09:00-21:00 all year, with last admission at 20:00. It closes on Mondays, but stays open when that Monday is a public holiday or substitute holiday and takes the next non-holiday day off instead. Admission is 1,000 won, or 800 won for groups of ten or more; the charge applies to Korean residents aged 25-64 and foreign visitors aged 19-64. The exhibition halls inside keep their own hours. Seokjojeon opens 09:30-17:30 (last commentary 16:30) and can only be seen on a guided tour booked online in advance, Deokdeokjeon opens 09:00-17:30 (last entry 17:00), and Jungmyeongjeon opens 09:30-17:30 (last entry 17:00). The royal guard changing ceremony is held in front of Daehanmun Gate at 11:00 and 14:00 every day except Monday; it may be cancelled in bad weather and is running in shortened form until construction of the Daehanmun woldae platform is complete.

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Transit times by ODsay

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