Deoksugung Palace

* Special closure on March 21, 2026 Registered as a Historic Site, Deoksugung Palace was initially not a royal palace, but the residential home of Grand Prince Wolsan (1454-1488), the older brother of King Seongjong (1469-1494) of the Joseon dynasty. It wasn't until 1593 that the palace was used as a temporary palace of the royal family after their home was burned down during the Imjin War. King Seonjo also stayed at Deoksugung Palace after returning to the city. 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 change officially to Deoksugung Palace, meaning the “palace of virtuous longevity,” until 1907. While the palace once 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. Official location: 99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul. Visiting hours: [General admission] 09:00-21:00 (Last admission 20:00)[Exhibition] Seokjojeon Hall 09:30-17:30 (Last docent 16:30)Dondeokjeon Hall 09:00-17:30 (Last admission 17:00)Jungmyeongjeon Hall 09:30-17:30 (Last admission 17:00). Closure information: Mondays (Closed the following business day in the case of Monday being a national holiday). Parking: Not available. Information contact: +82-2-771-9951. Plan this visit using the official information above as the baseline. Operating hours, admission conditions, programs, access rules, and parking arrangements can change after this review, so confirm the latest notice on the linked official website before departure. This is especially important when a visit depends on a particular exhibition, guided program, seasonal activity, reservation, or accessibility service. Deoksugung Palace (덕수궁) is presented here as a destination rather than as a commercial listing. The description focuses on the setting and visitor experience documented by the Korea Tourism Organization. Respect residential, religious, ecological, and cultural-property rules where they apply, and use the official contact for questions that affect access or safety.