Deoksugung, Royal palace in Jung-gu district, Seoul, South Korea

Deoksugung is a former royal palace in Jeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Its central hall, Junghwajeon, stands on a raised stone platform: a single-story structure with a dark hipped roof, red-brown wooden pillars and walls, reached by shallow stone steps on its left. The hall sits in a wide paved courtyard with low stone walls and trees behind and beside it.

The site held Queen Sindeok's tomb until Taejong moved it, and Grand Prince Wolsan later built his residence there. In 1593 King Seonjo, returning to a burned capital, used that house as a temporary palace; Gwanghaegun named it Gyeongungung in 1611. Gojong made it the Korean Empire's main palace in 1897, and it was renamed Deoksugung in 1907.

The changing of the royal guard takes place in front of Daehanmun, the palace's main gate, where guards in Joseon-era dress carry out the ceremony. The gate was renamed Daehanmun in 1906 after repairs, having previously been called Daeanmun. Visitors can watch the handover from the courtyard in front of the gate.

The compound is easy to explore on foot, as the paths are level and the courtyards manageable in size. Guided tours offer explanations in several languages, and the entrance is just a short walk from the subway station.

A Western stone building rises among the traditional wooden pavilions and displays classical columns and rows of windows. The structure dates to the early years of the 20th century and now houses exhibitions featuring furniture and artwork from that period.