Changgyeonggung Palace

Changgyeonggung is a Joseon palace in Jongno, Seoul. Together with Changdeokgung, from which it is separated by a single wall, it was known as the "East Palace". Built to house senior royal women, it is modest in size, yet it has Myeongjeongjeon, the oldest surviving throne hall among Seoul's palaces, and a Grand Greenhouse from 1909. It stays open until 21:00, so it suits an evening stroll.

History: a palace enlarged for three queen dowagers

The site was first occupied by Suganggung, built in 1418 by King Sejong for his father, the retired King Taejong. King Seongjong enlarged it in 1483–1484 to house three queen dowagers, Jeonghui, Sohye and Ansun, and renamed it Changgyeonggung. Unlike Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung, its main buildings face east. It burned down during the Japanese invasions of the 1590s and was rebuilt in 1616 under Gwanghaegun. The palace saw several court tragedies, among them King Sukjong's execution of Royal Consort Hui-bin Jang and King Yeongjo locking Crown Prince Sado in a rice chest. From 1909 the Japanese built a zoo and botanical garden here, and in 1911 they downgraded its name to "Changgyeongwon". The zoo and garden moved to Seoul Grand Park in 1983, the palace regained its name, and restoration has continued since.

What to see

• Honghwamun: the east-facing main gate, first built in 1484 and rebuilt in 1616. King Yeongjo heard public opinion at this gate in 1750, and King Jeongjo handed out rice to the poor here in 1795.
• Okcheongyo: a stone bridge from 1483, with goblin faces carved between its two arches to ward off evil spirits.
• Myeongjeongjeon: the throne hall, rebuilt in 1616 and the oldest surviving throne hall among Seoul's palaces. Originally built as living quarters for queens, it is a single-storey hall, smaller than those of Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung.
• Gwancheondae and Punggidae: a stone platform once used to observe the stars, and a stand for a pole that measured wind direction.
• Chundangji Pond: once a small pond, it took its present gourd shape in 1909 when the royal farming plot beside it was removed. In autumn the leaves are reflected in the water.
• Grand Greenhouse: a wooden greenhouse begun in 1907 and completed in 1909, at the time the largest in East Asia, registered as cultural heritage in 2004.

Royal stories in the halls

• Munjeongjeon: the council hall where the king handled daily affairs. Unusually, it faces south while the throne hall faces east. The incident in which Crown Prince Sado was locked in a rice chest began in front of it. It was demolished in the colonial period and restored in 1986.
• Gyeongchunjeon: a residence of queen dowagers, home to Queen Insu and Lady Hyegyeong; Kings Jeongjo and Heonjong are said to have been born here.
• Hwangyeongjeon: the sleeping quarters where King Jungjong died and where Crown Prince Sohyeon lived.
• Tongmyeongjeon (Treasure): the king and queen's residence and banquet hall in the innermost part of the palace. It burned in 1790; the present building dates from 1834.
• Yeongchunheon: King Jeongjo's study, where he died; rebuilt in 1834.
• Haminjeong: a pavilion with a wide forecourt where the king received officials.

From cherry-blossom park back to palace

In 1922, during the Changgyeongwon era, the Japanese planted thousands of cherry trees in the grounds, and from 1924 night-time cherry blossom viewing was held here, a symbol of the years when the palace served as an amusement park. When restoration began in 1983 the animals moved to Seoul Grand Park and the cherry trees were all removed. Today well-tended pines fill the grounds, and a garden behind Chundangji holds some 400 native plant species, including the rare white forsythia. An octagonal seven-storey stone pagoda in the grounds is designated a Treasure.

Tripto tips

• Hours: 09:00–21:00 (last entry 20:00), closed every Monday; if Monday is a public holiday the palace opens and closes on the next weekday.
• Evening visits: in the evening only the area around Honghwamun, Myeongjeongjeon, Tongmyeongjeon, Chundangji and the greenhouse stays open. Visitors must move there by 17:30 (Nov–Feb), 18:00 (Mar–May, Sep–Oct) or 18:30 (Jun–Aug). From December to February the greenhouse interior closes at 18:00. Evening general admission is suspended from 10 to 15 November 2026.
• Admission: KRW 1,000 for adults. The integrated palace pass (KRW 6,000) covers the four palaces and Jongmyo; visitors in full hanbok enter free.
• Getting there: about 12 minutes on foot from Hyehwa Station exit 4 (Line 4). By bus, get off at "Seoul National University Hospital" or "Changgyeonggung". The palace car park is temporarily closed until 31 December 2026.
• Combine with Jongmyo: on weekends and public holidays the gate on Yulgok-ro is open, so you can walk straight over to Jongmyo.
• Time needed: 1–1.5 hours.