Changgyeonggung Palace: A Guide to Seoul’s Royal Hidden Gem

A royal palace in Seoul without the crowds? There is one, and most travelers have never heard its name. Changgyeonggung Palace. I even thought it was part of another palace for ages.

The first time I went to Changdeokgung, I didn’t know there was another palace right next to it until I saw the entrance into Changgyeonggung right by the Secret Garden.

Today, years later, I go there to take quiet walks for only 1,000 won per visit.

Let me show you how you can also get your peaceful historical walks in, from ticket pricing, navigating two separate entrances, to the top sights inside the complex!

What is Changgyeonggung Palace Anyway?

At first glance at the map, a lot of people think it’s part of Changdeokgung. I did, too.

But no, Changgyeonggung exists on its own! But what is it? It’s not the main palace, not the secondary palace, not the imperial palace either. Let’s first look at its history real quick!

The History of Changgyeonggung Palace

Known during the Joseon period as the palace of queens, Changgyeonggung Palace was mostly used as living quarters for royal family members.

Originally, it was the same palace as Changdeokgung, known together as the East Palace, or Donggweol (동궐).

The first buildings of the palace were built in 1418 by King Sejong the Great as the residence for his father, Taejong. The retired king’s palace, back in the day, was called Suganggung (수강궁).

How It Became the Palace of Queens

Decades later, in 1483, King Seongjong of Joseon expanded Suganggung for three queen dowagers, his grandmother, his mother, and his aunt respectively, and renamed it Changgyeonggung Palace (창경궁).

The three queens were Queen Jeonghui, the wife of King Sejo; Queen Sohye, the wife of King Deokjong; and Queen Ansun, the wife of King Yejong.

Colonial Period and Modern Restoration

After Emperor Gojong abdicated the throne in 1907, King Sunjong was relocated from Deoksugung to Changdeokgung.

At this time, the Japanese colonial government began removing buildings from Changgyeonggung and turned the palace into a botanical garden and a zoo.

The buildings inside the palace today were restored in 1983, but they only constitute to one-third of the palace’s original size. Just in case you were wondering why it doesn’t have much going on.

How to Get to Changgyeonggung Palace

There are 2 ways to get to Changgyeonggung. You can arrive from other places in the city and enter through its front gate, or enter from inside Changdeokgung Palace, right next door!

By Metro

Changgyeonggung Palace is located right in the middle of 3 metro stations, but not quite close to any of them. Maybe that’s why it remains less visited than Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung.

Whichever of these stations you’re getting off at, it’ll be about a 15-minute walk to reach Changgyeonggung.

• Metro line 1 (dark blue) to Jongno 5-ga Station, exit 1
• Metro line 3 (orange) to Anguk Station, exit 3
• Metro line 4 (light blue) to Hyehwa Station, exit 4

Walking Over from Changdeokgung

For those planning to visit both Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung on the same day, you won’t need to exit one and walk all the way around to enter the other.

Inside Changdeokgung, navigate your way back to the Secret Garden entrance.

You’ll see a small gate to the right of it, complete with a ticketing booth. This is where you’ll leave Changdeokgung and enter Changgyeonggung. Tickets can be bought at the booth.

Changgyeonggung Palace Hours and Admission

• Hours: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (last admission at 8:00 PM)
• Admission Fee: 1,000 KRW for individuals, 800 KRW for a group of 10 or more paid visitors
• Location: 185 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno District, Seoul

The palace is closed on Mondays.

If a public holiday falls on a Monday, the palace will be closed on the day after the holiday, too. So be sure to ask Google for Korean holidays when you plan your visit!

Main Highlights of Changgyeonggung Palace

Changgyeonggung is, thankfully, a bite-sized palace compared to the other ones in Seoul.

You can easily see all its buildings in less than an hour and spend more time taking a relaxing stroll around its back garden. In this section, I’ll quickly walk you through what its buildings are.

Honghwamun Gate (홍화문)

Unless you’re entering from Changdeokgung, you’ll first come across the main gate, Honghwamun. Its name means practicing virtue and influencing people.

Right behind the gate when you enter, you’ll see a stone bridge, Okcheongyo Bridge, crossing a stream. This is a hallmark of Joseon-era palaces.

The stream is symbolic of two things: One, passing through a river, one can cleanse their minds before meeting the king, and two, the stream protects the inner palace from evil spirits.

The Throne Hall: Myeongjeongjeon Hall (명정전)

Established in 1483, this served as the main throne hall of the palace where kings held royal ceremonies. Unlike other throne halls, this one faces east instead of south.

It was burned down during the Japanese invasion of 1592 and rebuilt in 1616.

The Unique King’s Office: Munjeongjeon Hall (문정전)

Another unusual trait of Changgyeonggung, Munjeongjeon Hall, is where the kings conducted their state affairs.

Usually built behind the throne hall and facing the same direction, Munjeongjeon is beside the throne hall and facing in a different direction, facing south.

Sungmundang Hall (숭문당) & Haminjeong Pavilion (함인정)

Sungmungdang Hall, hidden in a corner behind the throne hall and the king’s office, was where the king held conferences on state affairs and discussed classical literature with his scholars.

Walk along the covered walkway, exit the little gate behind the throne hall, and the first thing you’ll see on the inner court is Haminjeong Pavilion.

This was where the king would receive government officials who earned the highest scores on their civil or military exams.

Gyeongchunjeon Hall (경춘전) and Tongmyeongjeon Hall (통명전)

Gyeongchunjeon was the building King Seongjong built for his mother, Queen Sohye, when he first expanded the old palace and turned it into Changgyeonggung.

Tongmyeongjeon was the queen’s sleeping quarters and the largest building in the inner court.

It was damaged by a fire in 1790 and rebuilt in 1834. If you choose to enter the palace through Changdeokgung, this is the first building you will see.

Yeongchunheon (영춘헌) & Jipbokheon (집복헌)

This was where King Jeongjo, the 22nd monarch of Joseon, used to live until his death in 1800.

The two jointed houses were where many kings were born, and had their birthday celebrations and coming-of-age ceremonies. The king most closely associated with these houses was King Sunjo.

The Palace Gardens

Taking a walk around the pond, or just anywhere, in Changgyeonggung’s back garden is an unmatched palace-going experience.

I highly recommend visiting in late October or early November for optimal fall colors.

Chundangji Pond (춘당지)

It was originally a small pond in an open area where kings practiced archery and officers took civil service examinations.

In those days, a section of the pond you see used to be rice paddies where kings practiced rice farming to set an example for their people.

The Grand Greenhouse (대온실)

Built in 1909, what you see here is the first Western-style greenhouse on the entire Korean Peninsula. The interior echoes, so it can be overwhelming if you enter with a lot of people.

I recommend waiting around until you see a lot of people exiting and then going in. The interior is quite stunning and is worth a peek!

Guided Tours Available in Changgyeonggung

There are two types of tours you can join on your Changgyeonggung visit.

Free Palace Guided Tours

Free foreign-language tours are available every day in Changgyeonggung. You can join them for free without prior reservation, just show up at Okcheongyo Bridge right inside the main gate.

• English Tours: 11:00 AM & 4:00 PM
• Japanese Tours: 10:00 AM & 2:00 PM
• Chinese Tours: 9:30 AM & 3:00 PM

Changgyeonggung Tour For Foodies

Alternatively, if you’re a foodie who would like to visit Changgyeonggung on the same night as Gwangjang Market, this gem of a food crawl is perfect for you!

It starts with a pick-up, then 50 minutes inside Changgyeonggung. Afterwards, you get an hour an a half trying foods around Gwangjang Market, ending the night at Jogyesa Temple.

Nearby Attractions to Add to Your Itinerary

Below are some of the best things you can visit that are within walking distance of Changgyeonggung.

• Changdeokgung Palace
• Hanok Villages, specifically Bukchon and Ikseondong
• Jongmyo Shrine, another UNESCO World Heritage
• Gyeongbokgung Palace

To visit everything on the list, I recommend planning at least 2 days for the Jongno area.

Don’t forget to bookmark my South Korea Immersive Travel page, where you can access all my guides. Chances are, you’ll want to plan another trip within the first day there!

Other Helpful Travel Tips for South Korea

Most visa-free visitors to South Korea need a K-ETA in order to enter Korea. Check if you need one and apply about a week before you travel. This replaces the arrival form.

• Make sure you protect your trip with a travel insurance.
• Get this eSIM for local data without giving up your number.
• Must-have Apps: Papago AI Translator, Naver Maps, Kakao Metro

Don’t forget to learn some important dos and don’ts in Korean culture, as well as some useful Korean phrases, before you arrive!

Grab My South Korea E-Checklist

To make sure you don’t leave anything important out of your preparations, I’ve made a digital checklist to help you get ready. I leave 2 pages blank for you to customize your own checklist, too!

Find a Place to Stay in Seoul

Looking for somewhere to stay? Use this map below! Feel free to refer to my guide on Seoul neighborhoods and figure out which area suits your needs best!

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