— Overview
The notes follow the older name Gyeongungung, from a tomb and a prince’s house to a wartime palace, and stop at the wall now called Deoksugung’s stone-wall road.
— Contents and key concepts
A tomb, a prince’s house, and a name older than Deoksugung
The notes introduce Deoksugung as a place that can meet two hopes foreign visitors often bring: a country’s own tradition, and an experience they have not had before. People think first of Gyeongbokgung, they write, yet Deoksugung is no less central to Joseon history, and among Seoul’s five Joseon palaces it has the most distinctive architecture.
Its original name was Gyeongungung. The site had been the tomb of King Taejo’s consort, Lady Kang. Under Taejong the tomb was moved to Jeongneung-dong, and the house of Wolsandaegun, an older brother of Seongjong, stood there instead. For a time it remained a prince’s residence, not a palace.
1592, a burned capital, and a temporary court
In 1592, during the Imjin War, Seonjo came back to Seoul from refuge in Uiju and found the palaces burned. He took as a temporary palace the largest royal private house of the day. Even that was too small for a court, so the nearby houses of Gyerim-gun and Sim Ui-gyeom were joined to it, and the place was known as the Jeongneung-dong temporary palace.
Seonjo died there. After Gwanghaegun took the throne he moved to Changdeokgung. Queen Inmok also used the site, but after Injo’s accession it was returned to the Wolsandaegun family. In that period, the notes say, it had not yet taken the full form of a palace.
A late-Joseon return, four halls, and a wall
Late in Joseon, after Empress Myeongseong was killed at Gyeongbokgung, the queen dowager and the crown prince moved to Gyeongungung. Gojong himself returned there after the Agwan refuge at the Russian legation. Halls that went up in that period, the notes list, include Seonwonjeon, Hamnyeongjeon, Bomungak, and Saseongdang. In the first month of the fourth year of Gwangmu, the palace wall now called Deoksugung’s stone-wall road was built. The notes stop at that wall.
The same Korean report, at fuller length, is on CampusDown.
Sources
- The notes, a student account of Deoksugung under its older name Gyeongungung: Lady Kang’s tomb and Wolsandaegun’s house, Seonjo’s temporary palace in 1592, the return after the Agwan refuge, four halls, and the wall of the first month of Gwangmu 4.
Last updated: 15 November 2026
Frequently asked questions
What was the site before it became a palace?
The notes introduce Deoksugung as a place that can meet two hopes foreign visitors often bring: a country’s own tradition, and an experience they have not had before. People think first of Gyeongbokgung, they write, yet Deoksugung is no less central to Joseon history, and among Seoul’s five Joseon palaces it has the most distinctive architecture. Its original name was Gyeongungung. The site had been the tomb of King Taejo’s consort, Lady Kang. Under Taejong the tomb was moved to Jeongneung-dong, and the house of Wolsandaegun, an older brother of Seongjong, was built there instead. For a time it remained a prince’s residence.
How did it become a palace in 1592?
In 1592, during the Imjin War, Seonjo came back to Seoul from refuge in Uiju and found the palaces burned. He took as a temporary palace the largest royal private house of the day — the house that would later be called Gyeongungung. Even that was too small for a court, so the nearby houses of Gyerim-gun and Sim Ui-gyeom were joined to it, and the place was known as the Jeongneung-dong temporary palace. Seonjo died there. After Gwanghaegun took the throne he moved to Changdeokgung; Queen Inmok also used the site, but after Injo’s accession it was returned to the Wolsandaegun family. In that period, the notes say, it had not yet taken the full form of a palace.
What was added after Empress Myeongseong’s death and the Agwan refuge?
Late in Joseon, after Empress Myeongseong was killed at Gyeongbokgung, the queen dowager and the crown prince moved to Gyeongungung. Gojong himself returned there after the Agwan refuge at the Russian legation. Halls that went up in that period, the notes list, include Seonwonjeon, Hamnyeongjeon, Bomungak, and Saseongdang. In the first month of the fourth year of Gwangmu, the palace wall now called Deoksugung’s stone-wall road was built. The notes stop at that wall.
Refund policy
- Change of mind / refund requested after partial use / more than 7 days after purchase
◆ Exceptions
- File errors / cannot download or open the file
◆ How to request a refund: send a 1:1 inquiry via Customer Service at the top