Changdeokgung is one of the Five Royal Palaces in Seoul. Kings of the Joseon Dynasty resided in Changdeokgung Palace for the longest duration among all the palaces. The palace’s rear, known as Huwon (Secret Garden), boasts one of South Korea’s most exquisite historical gardens.
On This Post
- General Information about Changdeokgung Palace
- How to Book Secret Garden (Huwon)
- What to See in Changdeokgung Palace
- Huwon, The Secret Garden
- When to Visit Changedeokgung Palace
- History of Changdeokgung Palace
- Changdeokgung Palace in Korean Dramas
🟠 Information about Changdeokgung Palace
1. Address and Map of Changdeokgung Palace
99, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
2. How to get to Changdeokgung Palace
Ride subway line 3 and get off at Anguk Station (안국/328). Take exit 3 and walk 400 meters (about a quarter mile). Or, ride line 1 or line 5 and get off at Jongno 3(sam)-ga station (종로3가/130, 534). Take exit 7 and walk 630 meters (about 0.4 miles.)
3. Admissions
To visit Changdeokgung Palace, you need to buy a ticket for the Palace Building Area (general admission). This ticket is NOT for the Secret Garden. In order to visit the Secret Garden, you need to purchase a separate ticket in addition to the ticket for the Palace Building Area.
Palace Building Area Tickets (General Admission)
- Adult (age 19-64): ￦3,000
- Group (10 persons or more): ￦2,400
- Free Admission
- Age 18 and under
- Age over 65 years old
- Requires a Valid ID card for free tickets.
Secret Garden Tickets
- Adult (age over 19): ￦5,000
- Youth (age 7-18): ￦2,500
- Free Admission
- Age 6 and under
- Visitors to the Secret Garden must purchase tickets for the Palace Building Area (general admission).
Royal Palace Pass
- ￦10,000
- This pass is good to enter 4 Royal Palaces and Jongmyo Royal Ancestral Shrine. The available places are Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Changgyenggung Palace, Deoksugung Palace, and the Jongmyo Royal Ancestral Shrine.
- Visitors can buy a Royal Palace Pass at the ticket office at any of the 4 palaces or at the Jongmyo Royal Ancestral Shrine. The pass is available for 3 months from the purchase.
- The administration office says a “Royal Palace Pass holder must exchange the Secret Garden Voucher for a valid ticket at the ticket office, on a first come first served basis. Purchasing a Royal Palace Pass does not guarantee entrance to the Secret Garden.”
Tips for Free Entrance
- If you wear a Hanbok, the traditional Korean clothes, your admission is free. You can find Hanbok rental shops near Changdeokgung Palace, especially in the Bukchon Hanok Village neighborhood.
- Visit Changdeokgung Palace on Culture Day. Culture Day is the last Wednesday of every month.
4. Opening Hours
Please note that ticket sales close up to one and a half hours before the closing time.
Palace Building Area
- Feb. – May: 09:00 – 18:00
- Jun. – Aug.: 09:00 – 18:30
- Sep. – Oct.: 09:00 – 18:00
- Nov. – Jan.: 09:00 – 17:30
Secret Garden
- Mar. – Jun.: 10:00 – 17:30
- Jul. – Aug.: 10:00 – 17:10
- Sep. – Oct.: 10:00 – 17:30
- Nov.: 10:00 – 17:00
- Dec. – Feb.: 10:00 – 16:10
5. Free Guided Tours
a. General Course (Palace Building Area)
- Location: At the signpost upon entering the main gate (Donhwamun Gate)
- Duration: 50 minutes
- Schedule
- English: 10:15 & 13:15
- Chinese: 10:00
- Japanese: 11:00
b. Secret Garden Course
- Location: At the Secret Garden entrance
- Duration: 90 minutes*
- Schedule
- English
- Mar. – Nov.: 10:30, 11:30, 14:30, & 15:30
- Dec. – Feb.: 10:30, 11:30, & 14:30
- Chinese: 12:30
- Japanese: 13:30
- English
*At the time when I visited, visitors could leave a group and walk around the garden individually. The guidance can change at any time.
6. Contact
Changdeokgung Palace Office: +82 2-3668-2300
7. Visitors Guidelines
- No smoking
- No eating except for non-alcoholic beverages
- No commercial photography
- No wedding photography
- No tripod in Secret Garden
- No pets except for service animals.
- No running
*Wheelchairs and strollers are available.
🟠 How to Book Secret Garden (Huwon)
The Secret Garden (Huwon) is the jewel of Changdeokgung Palace. As I mentioned above, it needs a separate ticket from the general admission to enter it.
Each time slot allows only 100 visitors and half of these tickets are available for advance purchase online. You can still buy a ticket at the time of your visit, but I strongly recommend purchasing your ticket online ahead of time.
Tours are available in four languages: Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese. The online reservation becomes available 6 days in advance prior to the date you select to visit. Keep this in mind because the tickets will be gone in a second for certain seasons, especially during autumn foliage.
If you miss to book online, try to purchase tickets when you visit. It’s first come, first served, so the earlier get there, the more chance to buy it.
Here is a step-by-step guide for how to book Secret Garden:
- Visit the ticketing site for Changdeokgung Palace.
- Sign up (the site says “Join”) and log in prior to online bookings.
- Select the date, time, and admission type. When you select the date, you will see the availability under the “Select Hour” section. Also, you can choose your language in the same section.
- Foreign language tours are for foreign passport holders only. A foreign visitor can bring up to 2 Koreans.
- Make a payment using a credit card.
- After payment, you can find your mobile ticket in the ‘MY’ section. If you prefer, you can print it out as well.
- The Secret Garden ticket does NOT include the general admission. Although you can buy the general admission ticket at your visit on the ground, I would suggest purchasing one online since now you know how to do it and it will save you time. Once you purchase the ticket, you will find the general admission ticket in the same section.
- Once you arrive at the palace, you show your mobile general ticket at the main gate (Donhwamun). You need to show your mobile ticket to Secret Garden at the garden’s gate again.
🟠 What To See At Changdeokgung Palace
Changedoekgung Palace is the only one among the five major palaces of the Joseon Dynasty that has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
1. Donhwamun Gate (돈화문)
Donhwamun Gate is the main gate of Changdeokgung Palace. In 1412, King Taejong ordered the construction of the palace.
During the Imjin War, the pavilion was destroyed by fire but was later reconstructed, starting in 1607 and completed in 1609. The gate was originally not as grand as now, but it expanded gradually after the Imjin War, as Gyeongbokgung Palace lost its status as the main palace.
Korean authorities have designated it as Treasure No. 383.
2. Geumcheongyo Bridge (금천교)
The Geumcheongyo Bridge stands above the Myeongdangsu, namely Geumcheon, between Donhwamun Gate and Jinseonmun Gate of Changdeokgung.
People believed Geumcheongyo Bridge to remove evil spirits attached to the bodies of those entering this palace. It is the oldest surviving stone bridge in Seoul. The bridge is Treasure No. 1759.
3. Jinseonmun Gate (진선문)
It is the location where the “Shinmungo” was once situated. Initially, if common people knocked it, the king personally addressed unjust stories; however, it vanished due to complex procedures, only to be reestablished later.
Passing Jinseonmun Gate, you will see a courtyard connected to Injeongmun Gate. This place has an interesting story.
King Taejong ordered Park Ja-cheong, who was in charge of building Changdeokgung Palace, to make the courtyard outside the Injeongmun Gate a perfect rectangle. However, Park Ja-cheong, in an effort to preserve the natural landscape behind, insisted on creating a trapezoidal space, disregarding the king’s directive.
Displeased with the result, King Taejong imprisoned Park Ja-cheong. Yet, eventually, the King released Park Ja-cheong a month later and let him continue to oversee various construction projects. Ultimately, Park Ja-cheong executed the construction of the corridor according to his intended trapezoidal design.
4. Injeongmun Gate (인정문)
Injeongmun Gate is the gate to the main hall, Injeongjeon. This place hosted many coronation ceremonies for Joseon kings.
The reason for conducting the coronation ceremony at the main gate rather than the main hall was mostly due to the solemnity required during the mourning period of the late king.
5. Injeongjeon (인정전)
Changdeokgung Palace’s Injeongjeon served as the main hall for official state ceremonies where the king received foreign envoys and received greetings from courtiers. Injeongjeon is South Korea’s National Treasure No. 225.
Injeongjeon was constructed in the fifth year of King Taejong’s reign during the establishment of Changdeokgung Palace. Destroyed during the Imjin War and restored during King Gwanghaegun’s reign, it suffered another fire in the third year of King Sunjo’s reign.
After reconstruction the following year, King Cheoljong’s seventh year of reign witnessed the dismantling and restoration work, resulting in its current state.
The spacious courtyard of Injeongjeon was called Jojeong (조정), where court rituals were performed. The rank stones at the courtyard indicate the positions of administrative and military officials, with 18 ranks inscribed for each in recognition of their status. King Jeongjo ordered the erection of stone markers.
Visitors see modern items inside of Injeongjeon in addition to the main throne. After establishing diplomatic relations with foreign countries, they introduced Western elements such as glass windows, light bulbs, and curtains in the surroundings.
In 1907, when King Sunjong relocated the royal residence from Deoksugung Palace to Changdeokgung Palace, he made changes such as transforming the indoor flooring of Injeongjeon from ondol to wooden floors and installing light bulbs.
6. Seonjeongjeon and Seonjeongmun Gate (선정전과 선정문)
Seonjeongjeon is the king’s official workplace, known as a “pyeonjeon,” where the king and his courtiers discuss political matters and study Confucian classics and history.
Unlike other halls, it has a blue-green tiled roof. Seonjeongjeon is the only remaining building with such roofing in the palace.
King Injo reconstructed the current building in 1647. Prior to the reign of Injo, King Gwanghaegun built Gwangjeongjeon at Ingyeonggung at the skirt of Mountain Inwangsan. But, King Injo ordered to dismantle the building and used the material to rebuild Seonjeongjeon
Seonjeongjeon represents the beautiful wooden structures of the mid-Joseon period.
7. Huijeongdang (희정당)
Heuijeongdang originally served as the king’s residence but transformed into a Pyeonjeon, a king’s office, during the late Joseon period. However, there are various historical interpretations regarding the actual purpose of this building.
While Injeongjeon is the symbolic main hall of Changdeokgung Palace, Heuijeongdang would have been the substantive central building where the king spent most of his time.
Originally named Sungmundang, it was later renamed Heuijeongdang during the reign of Yeonsangun.
On July 24, 2005, the funeral service for Yi Gu, the son of the last Crown Prince of the Korean Empire, took place here. Thus, Heuijeongdang became the location for the last ‘authentic funeral ceremony’ conducted in accordance with the royal protocols of the Joseon Dynasty.
8. Daejojeon (대조전)
Daejojeon serves as a royal residence in Changdeokgung. Surrounding the main hall, there are ondol-heated rooms on either side for the king and queen.
On the right side of Daejojeon, Heungbokheon stands as the tragic site where they held the last royal council meeting in 1910, resulting in the decision for Korea’s annexation by Japan. The entire area of Daejojeon is connected by various auxiliary buildings through corridors and walkways.
Destroyed by fire in 1917, the current Daejojeon was reconstructed in 1920 by relocating Gyotaejeon of Gyeongbokgung, to the vacant site. It remains one of the few parts that effectively showcases the palace’s original complex layout. The interior has been Westernized, preserving relatively well the final appearance of royal life.
In the rear courtyard, a picturesque “hwagye (화계)” is created, adorned with a beautiful chimney. The hwagye is a terraced flower bed with steps made of stone and earth, where flowers or trees are planted.
9. Seongjeonggak (성정각)
Seongjeonggak sits to the east of Injeongjeon. Originally the crown prince studied here. It later served different functions such as a pyeonjeon (building for state affairs) and a medical facility.
The Seongjeonggak area is well-known for its picturesque spring flowers.
Gwanmulheon is located rear of Seongjeonggak. Pay attention to the inscription on the signboard of the building. It was personally written by King Gojong.
Samsamwa, Chilbunseo, and Seunghwaru. These buildings were parts of Sejongjeonggak and they were a library and study rooms. These buildings are all connected by corridors.
10. Nakseonjae Complex (낙선재)
Nakseonjae Complex is a residential area in Changdeokgung Palace, situated along the boundary between Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung. At one point, it was a part of Changgyeonggung Palace.
This place served as the residence of the royal family of the Korean Empire until 1989, making it the most recently inhabited location. Occasionally, Nakseonjae holds events and exhibitions related to Korean traditions.
11. Gwolnaegaksa (궐내각사)
Gwolnaegaksa is a specifically designated office complex within the palace to assist the king closely. Numerous departments were densely arranged, creating a maze-like structure.
During the Japanese occupation, all these buildings were demolished, transforming into roads and grassy fields. The current structures were restored between 2000 and 2004.
🟠 Huwon, The Secret Garden, at Changdeokgung Palace
Huwon, the Secret Garden, is Korea’s largest palace garden, created during the reign of King Taejong. It served as a tranquil retreat for the king and members of the royal family.
When you step into Changdeokgung Palace, you will see the sign for the direction to the Secret Garden right after Donhwamun Gate.
1. Meeting Point
This is the meeting point for Huwon, The Secret Garden. Here, you must queue up and present your ticket for check-in.
The guided tour is the standard procedure, but during my visit, I had the option to explore Huwon independently without a guide. However, I still had to enter at the designated reserved time.
By the way, the right gate in the picture above is the entrance to Changgyeonggung Palace.
I strongly recommend reserving and purchasing a ticket to Huwon online. But, if you can’t, you can buy a ticket at the ticket booth at the meeting point if there are tickets available.
2. Buyongji Pond (부용지)
This area served as the initial central garden in the palace, functioning not only as a place for relaxation but also as a relatively accessible space for learning and education.
Various structures surround the square pond of Buyongji. Each building has its own unique charm and beauty, but together they create an exquisite landscape that harmonizes seamlessly.
Gyujanggak (규장각) and Seohyanggak (서향각) in the vicinity of Juhapru (주합루) served as royal libraries. Gyujanggak, dedicated to scholarly pursuits, gazes down at the pond from a higher vantage point.
Yeonghwadang (영화당) faces Chunjangdae courtyard to the east and Buyongji pond to the west. It is a unique building with verandas in the front and back.
Yeonghwadang held events including special historical exams in which the king participated.
The distinctive Buyongjeong (부용정) symbolizes a fully bloomed water lily floating on the pond.
3. Aeryeongji Pond (애련지)
In the year 1692, King Sukjong ordered the construction of a pond with an island and a pavilion. However, the island is no longer present.
Since King Sukjong particularly enjoyed lotus flowers, he named this pavilion Aeryeon, meaning loving lotus, and turned the pond into Aeryeonji.
To wish for the king’s health and longevity, this gate was named Bullomun (불로문), meaning never getting old.
In 1827, Crown Prince Hyomyeong built several buildings, including Uiduhap (의두합), and constructed a wall to the south of Aeryeonji.
The current building is a simple 8-section study without ornate decoration. The adjacent building to the right is the smallest single-room structure within the palace.
4. Gwallamji Pond (관람지)
The Gwallamji Pond area appears to be the most recently developed among the gardens in Huwon. Originally featuring three small ponds in square or circular shapes, it transformed into a single curved pond after the 1900s and is now referred to as Gwallamji Pond.
Its other name is Bandoji (the Peninsula Pond) because the pond is shaped like the Korean Peninsula.
Around the pond, various pavilions were constructed, including the hexagonal Jondeokjeong, the fan-shaped Gwallamjeong, the elongated and sharply-roofed Pyeomusa located on the western hill, and the slender-roofed Seungjaejeong.
Pyeomusa, initially designed in a ‘ㄱ (Korean alphabet)’ shape with an attached building, now has a simplified appearance without the attached structure. Seungjaejeong, nestled in the forest, displays an elegant form with a tiled roof.
Jondeokjeong, built in 1644, is the oldest structure, while Gwallamjeong and Seungjaejeong are estimated to have been built in the late 19th to early 20th century.
5. Yeongyeongdang (연경당)
Crown Prince Hyomyeong led to building of Yeongyeongdang in 1828 to perform the ritual of showing respect to his father, King Sunjo. The current Yeongyeongdang is estimated to have been reconstructed by King Gojong around 1865.
Modeled after the residence of the noble class, it consists of the king’s residence and the queen’s dwelling, with no ornate decoration. However, unlike ordinary homes limited to 99 rooms, Yeongyeongdang comprises over 120 rooms, showcasing its distinct scale.
Behind the queen’s dwelling, there is a preparation room where food was arranged. Since the era of King Gojong, Yeongyeongdang has been utilized for political purposes, hosting foreign envoys and diplomatic events.
There is another pond to the west of Aeryeonji, between Aeryeonji and Yeongyeongdang. Originally, there was a building called Eosudang in this location, but it no longer exists.
On the way out, take a good look at the tall white mulberry tree. This white mulberry tree is a Natural Monument.
The tree stands at a height of 12 meters with a circumference of 2.2 meters, making it the largest and oldest among the many mulberry trees within the palace grounds.
In the past, during an era when silkworm farming and agriculture played crucial roles as fundamental industries, individuals were encouraged to cultivate mulberry trees for silk production. Mulberry trees were even planted within the palace premises, where the queen personally engaged in silkworm cultivation, setting a noteworthy example for the nation.
🟠 When To Visit Changdeokgung Palace
It sounds so cliche, but any time of the year is good to visit Changdeokgung Palace. But, if you can choose one, autumn would be the best (between late October and mid-November) thanks to its colorful autumn foliage, especially in Secret Garden.
In spring, immerse yourself in the beauty of a myriad of flowers set against the backdrop of traditional Korean architecture, creating a scene reminiscent of a picturesque painting.
While winter and summer may not offer the same pleasant weather as spring and fall, experiencing a palace adorned with snow or lush greens adds a unique charm. Additionally, smaller crowds during these seasons enhance the overall experience.
🟠 History of Changdeokgung Palace
Changdeokgung is a palace of the Joseon Dynasty, located on the foothills of Bukhansan Mountain. Built in 1405, during the 5th year of King Taejong’s reign, as the secondary palace of Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung and its neighboring Changgyeonggung served different purposes but collectively formed one palace complex. During the Joseon era, these two palaces were referred to as “Donggung”, meaning “Eastern Palace,” and were considered sibling palaces.
In 1592, during the Japanese invasions (Imjin War), all palaces were destroyed, and Changdeokgung was rebuilt during the reign of King Gwanghaegun. Until the reconstruction of Gyeongbokgung by Heungseon Daewongun (the father of King Gojong) in 1867, Changdeokgung served as the primary royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty.
It is also notable for being the palace where Korean monarchs resided for the longest duration among all the palaces of the Joseon Dynasty.
🟠 K-dramas Filmed at Changdeokgung Palace
Several productions of K-dramas have used Changdeokgung Palace for filming. The list includes:
- Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryeong (신입사관 구해령)
- Under the Queen’s Umbrella (슈룹)
- Kingdom (킹덤)
- Secret Door (비밀의 문)
- The Crowned Clown (왕이 된 남자)
- Rooftop Prince (옥탑방 왕세자)
Related Post: 15 Filming Locations of K-dramas and Korean Movies
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Gyeongbokgung Palace was the main royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty. Read the complete guide to Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Bukchon Hanok Village
Bukchon Hanok Village stands out as one of Seoul’s premier destinations, offering visitors a glimpse into Korea’s rich traditional charm. Read the complete guide to Bukchon Hanok Village.
Leave a Reply