Changdeokgung

Changdeokgung is a former royal palace in Seoul, South Korea, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is among the best preserved of all Korean palaces. It was the most favored residential palace of the Joseon royal family. The palace's Secret Garden, long beloved by Korean monarchs, is now mostly available to the public.

Don't miss

• Injeongjeon, the throne hall that survived the 1623 Injo coup fire
• The Secret Garden (formerly called 'Forbidden Garden'), a rear garden expanded to its greatest extent under King Sukjong
• The pond dug in 1408 and the pavilion Gwangyeollu in the rear garden area
• The shrine Insojeon, completed in 1406 in the rear garden
• The palace's 29 named gates, all given names in 1475

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Changdeokgung

Cheapest way inGyeongbokgung Palace Hanbok Rental Experience in Seoul4.1★ · 92 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$7 per personSee dates →Best full dayBest DMZ Tour Korea from Seoul (Suspension Bridge & JSA Museum)4.9★ · 47,835 travelers7-9 hoursFree cancellationFrom$50 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleSeoul Private Local Tour: Gyeongbokgung, Seochon & Market Tour5★ · 10 travelers5-6 hoursFree cancellationFrom$68 per personSee dates →

Getting there

Know before you go

• The Secret Garden is mostly open to the public, but some sections require booking a tour.
• Changdeokgung and neighboring Changgyeonggung are together called the 'East Palace'.

A bit of history

Changdeokgung was established in 1405 as a secondary palace to Gyeongbokgung. After the Imjin War destroyed all palaces in 1592, Changdeokgung was rebuilt and effectively became Joseon's main palace for several centuries. In 1907, the final Korean monarch Sunjong made it his official palace. The Korean royal family continued to reside there even after the 1945 liberation of Korea and into the late 20th century.