Changgyeonggung, Royal palace in Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea

Changgyeonggung is a royal palace in Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea, that covers more than 185,000 square meters. The complex includes several ceremonial halls, gates, and traditional Korean gardens with ponds and pavilions.

The site began in 1418 as Suganggung, built by King Sejong for his abdicated father Taejong. In 1483 King Seongjong enlarged it and renamed it Changgyeonggung to house three dowager queens. Burned during the Imjin War of 1592, it was rebuilt from 1615 under Gwanghaegun. In 1909 Japan turned it into a zoo and botanical garden called Changgyeongwon; the name and palace status were restored in 1983.

The name Changgyeonggung means "Palace of Everlasting Celebration." The palace is the only Joseon royal residence laid out facing east, a choice made because it was built as a separate palace for three dowager queens. At Honghwamun gate, King Yeongjo asked citizens their opinion of the 1750 Gyunyeok Act, and King Jeongjo handed out rice there in 1795.

The complex opens daily except Mondays from 9 AM to 9 PM, and guided tours are offered in English, Chinese, and Japanese. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes, as the grounds are large and many paths cross gravel and uneven stone slabs.

The Victorian greenhouse from the Japanese occupation period still stands on the grounds today and appears like a foreign body among the traditional Korean structures. Visitors can see tropical plants inside that were once part of the colonial transformation.