Seokjojeon Hall, Neoclassical building in Sogong-dong, Seoul, South Korea
Seokjojeon Hall is a Western-style building in Deoksugung Palace in Seoul, South Korea. It has a ground floor decorated in 18th-century English style with rooms for formal functions and social areas furnished in Neoclassical style.
Seokjojeon was proposed by John McLeavy Brown and designed by John Reginald Harding in 1897, with construction completed between 1900 and 1910. British figures like Henry William Davidson and a decorator named Lovell played key roles in its creation.
The interior shows how Western manners and dining customs were adopted in Korea around 1900. Visitors can see formal chairs lined up in the audience chamber and more freely arranged furniture in the reception room, reflecting new social practices.
The building is part of Deoksugung Palace, so you can visit it while exploring the palace grounds. It is best to check the palace opening hours and allow extra time to walk through the rooms at a relaxed pace.
The furniture and decoration were handled by Maple & Co., a renowned international company since the mid-19th century. The interior mixes Neo-Palladian and Neoclassical styles, creating a Neo-Georgian look that is rare in Korea.
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