#Gyeongungung

[jojal-jojalkorean]

History Traveling: Trip to Deoksugung Palace

*All of the pictures (unless I add a credit) are taken by me! - Admin Sun :D

*There's a vocabulary list at the end related to this trip and the historical period of the Daehan Empire! 😊

↑ A sidewalk tile near Deoksugung palace, featuring art of the buildings

Recently, I got the chance to visit Deoksugung palace in Seoul. It's actually right next to Seoul city hall! I specifically chose Deoksugung palace because it's very unique. Although the palace is built in a 'traditional' korean style, the palace also has European style buildings! That's because Deoksugung palace (Also called Gyeongungung) was used by king Gojong after he proclaimed Joseon's new status as the 'Korean Empire' (대한제국) This is the late 19th century(1897) while other palaces like Gyeongbokgung(the main one) are famous for Joseon history, Deoksugung is mote famous for its time as the heart of the Korean Empire and its Western styled buildings. Since King Gojong was pretty open to Western culture (unlike his father) there's lots of Western styled buildings, and was equipped with products of the west such as electric lights and telephones. As the guide book says,

"Tradition and Modernity Meet at Deoksugung Palace"

↑ this is a picture of city hall I took right in front of Deoksugung palace! The tents in front of City hall is for events. (There was an event the day I visited Deoksugung. It was some international friendship festival or something? I'm not so sure)

The photo below is the photo of the front gate of the palace, " Daehanmun gate". The entrance fee was about 1000won (for an adult) if you're not an adult you get in for free! (But you need something like a school ID card to prove you're a student if you're tall) also, you can get in with a metro card (교통 카드).

The palace offers guidebooks(Program Brochures) in many languages (of course, including English. You can find them just to your left after entering through the main gate) there's also English, Japanese, and Chinese tours. The Audio Tour device (In Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese) is available for 3000won.

These four pictures below are the Korean styled buildings of Deoksugung. As you can see, it's night so the lights are very pretty! The palace is open until 9 p.m. I really liked the night view because the lights reflected the palace beautifully! One of the photos have traditional Korean structures, Modern structures, and the European style building in the background. I really like that picture because I got all three aspects of this place in one photo!

Also, I took a picture of the beautiful roof of traditional Korean houses. It's super colorful and pretty, I was staring at it and taking pictures for a pretty long time :D

The two photos below are pictures of the Western styled buildings. The first one is the National museum of Modern and Contemporary art, while the second one is the Seokjojeon hall. I also visited the museum (entrance fee is 2000won for adults, students get in for free) and enjoyed the modern art. If you visit Deoksugung palace, please visit the museum too! It's nice and you get to experience Korean art. I wanted to upload some photos, but the photo limit is 10 per post :/

The Seokjojeon hall was built between 1900 and 1910. It consisted of various public spaces including a reception hall and a dining hall. It was the representative Western style building of the Daehan Empire period. As Deoksugung is the Imperial palace of the Daehan Empire, this palace is the scene of modernization. 

However, the original interior of the building was badly damaged as the buildings were used as museums and for other purposes during the Japanese colonization of Korea. (Many palaces and other historical sites were damaged during this period) 

when King Gojong was forced to abdicate the throne in 1907, “Gyeongungung” palace (경운궁, the other name of Deoksugung) was renamed as Deoksugung. 

Chronology of Deoksugung palace (Credit: From the guide book)

1392 Foundation of the Joseon Dynasty (By the first king, 태조 이성계)

1592 Japanese Invasion of Korea (임진왜란. This war is when the famous general on our 100 won coin, 이순신 fought on the famous boat 거북선. The king during this time was Seonjo(선조). 

1608 King Seonjo(선조) is believed to have died at Seogeodang hall; Prince Gwanghae(광해군) is believed to have been crowned at Jeukjodang hall 

1611 Prince Gwanghae moves into Changdeokgung palace and names the palace “Gyeongungung palace”

1876 The treaty of Ganghwa starts the open-door policy (강화도 조약, 개화 정책)

1896 King Gojong takes shelter in the Russian Legation/Embassy (아관파천/ He took shelter in the Russian Legation Because his wife was murdered, he felt his life was in danger. His wife, queen Min was murdered by Japanese assassins (The Eulmi incident 을미사변). ) Actually, the American,British, Russian, Canadian, Dutch, and Norwegian embassies are near Deoksugung. However the current Russian embassy is not the one King Gojong took refuge in. If you want to visit the old Russian embassy, it’s near the American one. (Sorry for the TMI :)

1897 King Gojong moves into Gyeongungung palace and declares the Daehan Empire.

1905 Eulsaneugyak (을사늑약. It’s kind of a forced treaty signed in the year ‘Eulsa’ which is why it’s called 을사늑약. Usually treaties are called 조약, But as this one was forced we call it 늑약 instead.) is forcefully concluded amid an atmosphere of threats and intimidation at Jungmyeongjeon hall. I’ll talk more about 을사늑약 when I explain the history of the Daehan Empire later on a different post.

1907 Gyeongungung palace is renamed to Deoksugung palace.

1910 Completion of Seokjojeon hall. Korea is deprived of its national sovereignty by the Japanese.

1945 Korean Liberation (August 15th) I have a post about this day here! 

2010 Opening of Exhibition room at Jungmeuongjeon hall

2014 Opening of the Daehan Empire history museum at Seokjojeon hall

Vocabulary List 

궁전: Palace

서양: The west

동양: The east/ The Orient

미술관: Art Gallery

문물: culture, the products of civilization

서구 문물: European civilization

사상: thought/ idea

주장: Opinion

현대: Modern times (today/present)

근대: Modern times (Era) 

시대: time, period, era

제국: Empire

왕국: Kingdom

왕조: Dynasty

황제: Emperor

개항: Opening a port (to foreign trade)

대사관: Embassy

공사관: Legation

시청: City hall

투어/관광: Tour

사변: Incident

조약: Treaty

늑약: Unwilling treaty

정책: Policy

정치: Politics

정치인: Politician

체결하다:to conclude (a treaty or something)

전쟁: war, warfare

전투: battle

독립: Independence

Well that’s it for today’s post! If you ever get a chance to visit Korea, please take the time to visit the palaces! All of them are very beautiful, and you can learn a lot from them. I hope this post was helpful in some way! Have a nice day <3

If there’s any typos, please tell us.

-Written by Admin Sun

-Edited by Admin Seo, Admin Gyu, and Admin Yu

[theworldthroughmycamerassc]

Deoksugung - Seoul, South Korea

[fariastam]

We toured a lovely palace with some friends! Located at the corner of Seoul's busiest downtown intersection, Deoksugung Palace is famous for its elegant stone-wall road, which is also known as a popular date destination. We suspect that the length of the walk and the lack of distractions may be credited with inspiring love.

It is also the only palace that sits alongside a series of western style buildings that add to the uniqueness of the surrounding scenery.

Deoksugung Palace originally belonged to Wolsandaegun (1454-1488), the older brother of King Seongjong (1469-1494) of the Joseon Dynasty. It became a proper palace when Gwanghaegun (1575-1641) ascended to the throne and gave this royal residence the name Gyeongungung Palace in 1611. Over the following decades, the palace alternated between being an official palace and a temporary residence. The name did not official change to Deoksugung Palace, meaning the “palace of virtuous longevity,” until 1907. While the palace encompassed a vast area with many buildings, the current palace grounds are just a small shadow of the prior splendor, with very few structures remaining. Upon entering Deoksugung Palace through Daehanmun Gate, visitors will cross the wide bridge of Geumcheon Stream. The king's carriage would pass over this bridge during ancient times. The legal building Junghwajeon Hall is very stately, revealing its long history. The Jeukjodang Building received its name from Gwanghaegun and In-Jo, who both ascended to the throne here. The front sign on Jeukjodang was written personally by Gojong (26th king of the Joseon Dynasty, r. 1863-1907) in 1905 after he became king. Hamnyeongjeon Hall was where Gojong slept, named with the meaning of wishing for lasting peace for Gojong. The East Wing served as the king’s room, and the west wing was for the queen. Jeonggwanheon Hall was the first Western-style building built in the palace, completed in 1900. Gojong enjoyed drinking coffee and spending his free time here. The back of the building had secret passageways to the Russian Emissary, which still exist today. Seokjojeon Hall is the other Western-style building that still remains in Deoksugung Palace, and it was in the process of being built by a British man for his company, when in 1905 the property rights were transferred to Japan. It was finally completed in 1910. After Gojong’s death, Seokjojeon Hall became a Japanese art gallery open to the public. After the Korean Declaration of Independence, the American-Russian joint commission was held here as well in May 1946. The east wing of Seokjogwan Hall now serves as a palace treasure exhibition, and the west wing is used as part of the National Modern Art Center. Junghwajeon Hall was the center of politics during the Korean Empire and served as the backdrop to critical discussions on national affairs among the country’s leaders. The elaborateness of the hall’s interior is said to reflect the confidence of King Gojong in his ability to effectively lead the country into the 20th century. One of the most striking parts of the building is the pair of dragons that decorates the canopy above the throne of the king. These dragons can also be seen on the ceiling of Junghwajeon Hall and were representative designs of Deoksugung Palace, the imperial palace at that time. Though Junghwajeon Hall was originally built in 1902 as a multi-roofed building, it was redesigned as a single-roofed building in 1906 after it caught on fire two years before that. Current Status Historic Site No. 124 (Designated on January 18, 1963)

[theworldthroughmycamerassc]

Deoksugung - Seoul, South Korea