Changdeokgung Palace was never intended to be the most important palace in Seoul.
When the Joseon Dynasty began to rule the Korean Peninsula in 1392 and moved its capital to Seoul, it built Gyeongbokgung Palace as its primary residence, from where it planned to rule its new empire forever.
But fate had a different idea and, during a particularly brutal series of invasions by the Japanese between 1592 and 1598, the palace was burnt to the ground.
Changdeokgung Palace, which had been built about a decade after Gyeongbokgung Palace as a secondary residence, was also burnt to the ground during the Japanese invasions. But the decision was made to rebuild it first.
And so, Changdeokgung Palace was restored to its original glory by 1609. Gyeongbokgung Palace, on the other hand, wasn’t really touched for centuries and was left in ruins until a recent restoration effort began in the 1980s.
It meant that Changdeokgung Palace became the seat of government for the next 270 years of the Joseon Dynasty, right until the end of its rule.
And, as well as making it much more historically important than it was originally intended, this decision has also made Changdeokgung Palace the most authentic of the royal palaces in Seoul, with structures that are hundreds of years old, unlike Gyeongbokgung Palace, where many of them are just decades old.
It’s one of the main reasons why Changdeokgung Palace was named as one of South Korea’s World Heritage Sites, while none of the other royal palaces were.
Why is Changdeokgung Palace famous?
Changdeokgung Palace was originally built as a secondary residence in Seoul but became the main palace of the Joseon Dynasty in 1607, from where it ruled South Korea for about 270 years.
Is it worth visiting Changdeokgung Palace?
For the visual spectacle alone, it’s worth visiting Changdeokgung Palace, to see the imposing gates, monumental halls, and the incredible Secret Garden. But it’s also worth visiting to explore the best preserved of the royal palaces in Seoul.
What is the best palace in Seoul?
Often Gyeongbokgung Palace is considered to be the best palace in Seoul because it’s the largest and its recent restoration means it has the most impressive buildings. However, I think Changdeokgung Palace is actually the best because it is the most authentic, with centuries-old structures.
Visiting Changdeokgung Palace takes you inside the royal court, to the era of the Joseon Dynasty that ruled Korea from 1392 to…
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