Deoksugung Palace

Tucked along the stone-wall road of Jung District, Deoksugung Palace distills centuries of Korean royal history into an intimate, walkable ensemble of courtyards, tiled-roof pavilions, and European-style façades that feel almost cinematic against the modern city skyline. Once the seat of the Korean Empire under King Gojong, the palace is where traditional throne halls painted in vivid *dancheong* sit in striking dialogue with Seokjojeon Hall, a Neo-Classical stone residence conceived by British architects with columned porticos and manicured Western gardens. Today, its grounds house the Daehan Empire History Museum and a branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, making it a rare place where imperial heritage, art, and architecture converge in a single, atmospheric setting. Add the daily Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at Daehanmun Gate and the romantic stroll along the famed Deoksugung stone wall, and the palace becomes one of Seoul’s most evocative stages for both history and urban beauty.