Castle
Deoksugung Palace
덕수궁
Official name
About this place
Registered as a Historic Site, Deoksugung Palace was initially not a royal palace, but the residential home of Grand Prince Wolsan (1454-1488), the older brother of King Seongjong (1469-1494) of the Joseon dynasty. It wasn't until 1593 that the palace was used as a temporary palace of the royal family after their home was burned down during the Imjin War. King Seonjo also stayed at Deoksugung Palace after returning to the city. It became a proper palace when Gwanghaegun (1575-1641) ascended to the throne and gave this royal residence the name Gyeongungung Palace in 1611. Over the following decades, the palace alternated between being an official palace and a temporary residence. The name did not change officially to Deoksugung Palace, meaning the “palace of virtuous longevity,” until 1907. While the palace once encompassed a vast area with many buildings, the current palace grounds are just a small shadow of the prior splendor, with very few structures remaining.
- Address
- 99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
- Korean address
- 서울특별시 중구 세종대로 99 (정동)
- Opening hours
- [General admission] 09:00-21:00 (Last admission 20:00) [Exhibition] Seokjojeon Hall 09:30-17:30 (Last docent 16:30) Dondeokjeon Hall 09:00-17:30 (Last admission 17:00) Jungmyeongjeon Hall 09:30-17:30 (Last admission 17:00)
- Closed days
- Mondays (Closed the following business day in the case of Monday being a national holiday)
