Deoksugung

Deoksugung
Korean name
Hangul	덕수궁
Hanja	德壽宮
Revised Romanization	Deoksugung
McCune–Reischauer	Tŏksugung

Deoksugung, also known as Gyeongun-gung, Deoksugung Palace, or Deoksu Palace, is a walled compound of palaces in Seoul that was inhabited by various Korean royalties until the colonial period around the turn of the 20th century. The buildings are of varying construction, including some of natural cryptomeria wood^{[citation needed]}), painted wood, and stucco. Some buildings were built in Western style.

In addition to the traditional palace buildings, there are also an art museum, forested gardens, and a statue of King Sejong the Great at Deoksugung. The palace is located near the City Hall Station.

Deoksugung, like the other "Five Grand Palaces" in Seoul, was intentionally heavily destroyed during the colonial period of Korea. Currently, only one third of the structures that were standing before the occupation, remains.^[1]

History

Deoksugung was originally the residence of Prince Wolsan, the older brother of King Seongjong. This residence became a royal 'palace' during the Imjin war after all of the other palaces were burned in 1592 during the Imjin wars. King Seonjo was the first Joseon king to reside at the palace. King Gwanghaegun was crowned in this palace in 1608, and renamed it Gyeongun-gung (경운궁, 慶運宮) in 1611. After the official palace was moved to the rebuilt Changdeokgung in 1618, it was used as an auxiliary palace for 270 years and was renamed Seogung (West Palace).

In 1897, after the incident when Emperor Gojong took refuge in the Russian legation, he returned to this place and named it Gyeongungung again. Expansion of the facility followed after his return. After Emperor Gojong abdicated the throne to Emperor Sunjong, he continued to live in this palace. The palace was then renamed Deoksugung, as a reference to a wish for longevity of Emperor Gojong. Emperor Gojong died in Hamnyeongjeon.

Transportation

Deoksugung entry is located 5-1 Geongdong-gil/Deoksugung-gil, Jung-gu. The nearest subway station is

• City Hall Station (Station #132 on Line 1, Station #201 on Line 2 ).

Further reading

• Yoon, Jong-Soon. Beautiful Seoul (Sung Min Publishing House, Seoul 1992)

References

1. ^ http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/view/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0000068842

External links

• Official guide from Cultural Heritage Administration
• Deoksu Palace
• Deoksugung : Official Seoul City Tourism

Coordinates: 37°33′58″N 126°58′29″E / 37.56618°N 126.97485°E / 37.56618; 126.97485