Overview
Changdeokgung was built in 1405 under King Taejong as a secondary palace east of Gyeongbokgung. After the palaces burned in the Imjin War it was the first to be rebuilt, in 1610, and then served as the principal royal residence for about 270 years.
Description
Instead of imposing a symmetrical plan, the palace fits its halls and courtyards to the natural terrain, a quality for which it is celebrated. The throne hall is Injeongjeon, shown in the image, and behind the palace spreads the Huwon rear garden of wooded valleys, ponds and pavilions.
History and legacy
Through centuries as the seat of the court, Changdeokgung became the best preserved of the Joseon palaces. In 1997 it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.