Changdeokgung Palace Complex [UNESCO World Heritage Site] (창덕궁과 후원 [유네스코 세계문화유산]) - Area information - Korea travel information

Changdeokgung Palace Complex [UNESCO World Heritage Site] (창덕궁과 후원 [유네스코 세계문화유산])

3.2Km    2025-01-17

99 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Changdeokgung Palace was the second royal villa built following the construction of Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1405. It was the principal palace for many kings of the Joseon dynasty, and is the most well-preserved of the five remaining royal Joseon palaces. The palace grounds are comprised of a public palace area, a royal family residence building, and the rear garden. Known as a place of rest for the kings, the rear garden boasts a gigantic tree that is over 300 years old, a small pond and a pavilion.

The palace gained importance starting from the time of Seongjong, the 9th king of Joseon, when a number of kings began using it as a place of residence. Unfortunately, the palace was burned down by angry citizens in 1592 when the royal family fled their abode during the Imjin War. Thanks to Gwanghaegun, the palace was restored in 1611. Even today, it houses a number of cultural treasures, such as Injeongjeon Hall, Daejojeon Hall, Seonjeongjeon Hall, and Nakseonjae Hall.

Changdeokgung Palace’s garden behind the inner hall, called the "Secret Garden," was constructed during the reign of King Taejong and served as a rest area for the royal family members. The garden had formerly been called Bugwon and Geumwon, but was renamed Biwon Garden, or Secret Garden, after King Gojong came into power. The garden was kept as natural as possible and was touched by human hands only when absolutely necessary. Buyongjeong Pavilion, Buyongji Pond, Juhamnu Pavilion, Eosumun Gate, Yeonghwadang Hall, Bullomun Gate, Aeryeonjeong Pavilion, and Yeongyeongdang Hall are some of the many attractions that occupy the garden. The most beautiful time to see the garden is during the fall when the autumn foliage is at its peak and the leaves have just started to fall.

Though it has been treasured by Koreans for centuries, Changdeokgung Palace and its complex was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage site by the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Committee in December of 1997 during the committee meeting in Naples, Italy.

Samhyeongje Jjukkumi - Daehangno Branch (삼형제쭈꾸미 대학로)

3.2Km    2021-03-24

68, Dongsung-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-763-1204

This is a restaurant serving jjukumi (webfoot octopus), which has been featured in the gourmet program. This restaurant's signature menu is grilled pork belly. This Korean dishes restaurant is located in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Sookmyung Women's University Chung Young Yang Embroidery Museum (숙명여자대학교 정영양자수박물관 (서울))

3.2Km    2019-11-15

100, Cheongpa-ro 47-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
+82-2-710-9134

Chung Young Yang Embroidery Museum was founded in May 2004 to enhance public awareness and appreciation of embroidery art with ample facilities including exhibition hall, library, conservation center, learning center, embroidery study room, education and research rooms. The museum emphasizes on the variety of textiles and embroidery and also features collections from various Northeast Asian countries. The Chung Young Yang Embroidery Museum stresses the importance of embroidery as an evolving form of art through changes in technology, social and cultural environment. In addition, the learning center also aims to become a learning center for scholarship in embroidery and other textile arts that can be appreciated by a wide audience.

Korean National Police Heritage Museum (경찰박물관)

3.2Km    2021-12-21

41, Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3150-3681

The police museum opened on October 14, 2005 to give a better understanding of the job of the police and to offer a formal education to children who wish to become police officers in the future. The history hall of the museum is designed for visitors to learn about the history of Korean police at a glance, exhibiting information on the police force from the Joseon dynasty up until current times.

Visitors to the museum can pretend to be police officers by touching actual equipment and learning about an officer's daily tasks. Visitors can also get in patrol cars, wear a police uniform, experience shooting a gun through a simulation, and learn self-defense martial arts and arrest techniques. Visitors can also go to the museum jail.

Dongsung Sutbulgalbi (동숭숯불갈비)

3.2Km    2021-03-18

26, Daehak-ro, 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-741-3451

This is a Korean cuisine located in Daehak-ro, Seoul. The best menu at this restaurant is grilled spareribs. A restaurant serving charcoal-grilled meat.

Yurae hoegwan (유래회관)

3.2Km    2021-03-29

196, Majang-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2293-8866

It is a restaurant where you can enjoy Korean beef sirloin with a tradition of 57 years. This Korean dishes restaurant is located in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. The representative menu is grilled sirloin.

Cat on the Rooftop(옥탑방 고양이)

3.2Km    2025-04-29

서울특별시 종로구 대학로10길 24

Seoul Folk Flea Market - Traditional Arts & Crafts Studio (서울풍물시장 전통문화체험관)

3.2Km    2021-08-12

21, Cheonho-daero 4-gil, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2232-3368

The Traditional Arts & Crafts Studio in Seoul Folk Flea Market was created to give both locals and international visitors a chance to experience the traditional arts of Korea first-hand. For international visitors, programs serve as a brief introduction to some of the finer points of Korean art. For many Koreans, the studio’s programs are ways to relive childhood memories or experience traditional culture as a family.

Geunal Urineun (그날우리는)

3.2Km    2021-03-18

29, Daehak-ro, 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-764-4697

This is a Korean cuisine located in Daehak-ro, Seoul. The best menu at this restaurant is grilled sea eel. It sells grilled hagfish, which Koreans eat a lot for health in summer.

Aromind (아로마인드)

3.2Km    2024-01-30

19-7 Bukchon-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Aromind is a perfume workshop that offers a perfume-making experience with a professional perfumer in a quiet hanok building. Visitors can create their own one-of-a-kind perfume by choosing three out of 30 different scent options that change on a seasonal basis. A perfume one-day class is held for one to eight people for one to one and a half hours. The fee for the experience includes a 50 ml product and a 10 ml sample. They also offer the class in Korean with English interpretation when there non-Korean speaking participants. Aromind is the perfect place to create your own scent to associate your memory of Korea.