Five major palaces from Korea’s Joseon Dynasty remain, and while each one is impressive, only the Deoksugung Palace of Virtue and Longevity in Seoul sits surrounded by the capital’s high rises. Deoksugung is unique among Korean palaces in having a modern seal engraving and a western style garden and fountain. Here medieval and modern style architecture exist together in harmony.

The Changing of the Royal Guard can be seen in front of Daehanmun (the main entrance). The procedure of the ceremony and the costume of the guards were reproduced with the help of historical research. During the Joseon Dynasty, the royal guard was responsible for opening and closing the palace gate as well as patrolling around the gate area. Today the event has become the pride of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and is one of the main tourist attractions. The changing of the royal guard takes around 20 minutes. Following the ceremony visitors can take pictures with the royal guards and have the chance to try on the guard’s uniform, as well as to try on other traditional Korean dress. Outside the palace is a picturesque road flanked by a stone wall which is much loved by visitors.



If you’re looking to make a day of it there is also the Seoul Museum of Art right around the corner from the entrance to Deoksugung. The Cheonggye Plaza at the head of the renovated Cheonggye Stream is a short walk away. Heading in the direction down along the stream and a little North is the Boshingak Bell Pavilion, Tapgol Park, and the Jongmyo Royal Shrine up by Line 1. It id the heart of the city, and there are plenty of restaurants and shops as well.
Hours of Operation:
Tuesday to Sunday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Last admission 1 hour before closing time)
Admission:
Adults (19 years and over) ₩1,000Youth (7 ~18 years) ₩500
To Get There:
Deoksugung entry is located at 5-1 Geongdong-gil/Deoksugung-gil, Jung-gu. The nearest subway station is: City Hall Station (Station #132 on Line 1, Station #201 on Line 2)
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I envy you…the time we spent in Seoul were some of the best times of our lives. One of our favorite temples was the Changdeokgung Temple and its Huwon garden, very beautiful.