Deoksugung Palace덕수궁

At a glance

Deoksugung began as the home of Grand Prince Wolsan, elder brother of King Seongjong, and became a temporary palace in 1593 after the Japanese invasion of 1592 destroyed every palace in the capital. Named Gyeongungung in 1611, it rose to prominence when Emperor Gojong proclaimed the Korean Empire in 1897 and made it his imperial palace, adding Western-style buildings beside the traditional halls. A great fire in 1904 and Gojong's forced abdication in 1907, when it was renamed Deoksugung, were followed by heavy demolition under colonial rule; the Seokjojeon stone hall later hosted the US–Soviet Joint Commission in 1946–47, and the palace has been restored step by step since.

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Deoksugung Palace · 4 tours & tickets

1. GetYourGuideDeoksugung night tourA 2-hour guided evening walk through Deoksugung, starting from City Hall Station; the palace entrance fee is included.Book
2. GetYourGuideDeoksugung heritage walking tourA walk of about 3 hours with a licensed guide, covering Deoksugung, Donuimun Museum Village and Gwanghwamun Square.Book
3. KKdaySeoul night view tour with DeoksugungAn evening tour with stops at Deoksugung Palace, the Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain and Seoullo 7017.Book
4. GetYourGuideMoonlight Rainbow Fountain night tourAn evening tour of about 4 hours that starts at Deoksugung, then takes in a Han River park, the Namsan city wall and the Banpo Bridge fountain show.Book

Places to stay nearby

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Map

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Tips

• 01
  The grounds stay open until 21:00, so Deoksugung works well as an evening stop after downtown sightseeing.
• 02
  To see inside Seokjojeon, book a guided session on the Royal Palaces website (royal.khs.go.kr) before you go.

Nearby

National Jeongdong TheaterA national theater on Jeongdong-gil, a short walk from Deoksugung, that carries on the legacy of Korea's first modern theater.Cheonggyecheon StreamWalk a restored stream a level below downtown traffic: stepping stones, Joseon-era Gwangtonggyo, glowing night media art and December's lantern festival.Namdaemun MarketKorea's largest traditional market: 10,000 shops beside Sungnyemun Gate, famous alleys of kalguksu and braised cutlassfish, and hotteok stalls.Myeongdong NANTA TheatreThe Myeongdong home of NANTA, the wordless comedy show drummed out on kitchen tools, close to Myeongdong Station.