Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond (경주 동궁과 월지)

Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond is the famous Silla-era royal palace and lotus pond complex in Gyeongju, dating to the 7th century. The site was used for royal banquets and audiences during the Silla period, and the surviving stone foundations and reconstructed buildings — particularly when illuminated at night with reflections on the pond — form one of Korea's most iconic heritage scenes. For travelers visiting Gyeongju, Donggung and Wolji is one of the strongest single anchors, and the night illumination is widely considered Gyeongju's most photogenic single moment. Best timed to evening for the lit reflection.