Part of the 2025 Autumn Royal Culture Festival
In addition to diverse exhibitions, performances and hands-on activities
Free admission during the Chuseok holiday on October 8 and 9
From the end of the Chuseok holiday to the weekend of the following week, an event offering a variety of royal cultural experiences will be held at Changdeokgung Palace.
On October 2, the Korean Imperial Culture Center announced that "100 Years of Time and Scenery at Nakseonjae," a part of the 2025 Autumn Royal Culture Festival, will take place from October 8 to 12 at Nakseonjae in Changdeokgung Palace, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
Nakseonjae is a palace building constructed in 1847 during the late Joseon Dynasty by King Heonjong as a study and resting place. It is renowned as the place where members of the royal family, including the last empress, Empress Sunjeonghyo, spent their final days.
This event, hosted by the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the National Heritage Administration and co-organized by the National Heritage Promotion Agency and the Korean Imperial Culture Center, focuses on highlighting the significance of Nakseonjae in the context of modern Korean history over the past 100 years-including the Korean Empire, Japanese colonial period, liberation, and the Korean War-as well as the lives and spirits of three imperial women who resided at Nakseonjae: Empress Sunjeonghyo, Crown Princess Uimin (Mrs. Lee Bangja), and Princess Deokhye.
The event will be held at three locations within the Nakseonjae area: Nakseonjae, Seokbokheon, and Sugangjae.
At Nakseonjae, an exhibition will commemorate the "warm love" of Crown Princess Uimin, who devoted her life to education and care for people with disabilities by establishing institutions such as Myunghuiwon, Jahenghoe, and Jahye School. Her calligraphy, paintings, and personal artifacts, including a clock, glasses, and a cloisonne hairpin, will be on display.
In addition, works by four artists with developmental disabilities will be presented to honor Crown Princess Uimin's dedication to people with disabilities.
At Seokbokheon, the spirit and royal culture of Empress Sunjeonghyo, who maintained "dignified composure" as the matriarch of the Korean Empire even amidst turbulent times, will be expressed through Korean traditional painting, contemporary art, lacquerware, moon jars, and sculptures.
At Sugangjae, visitors will find photographs of Princess Deokhye as a kindergartener, transferred onto traditionally dyed fabric, as well as her portraits, reflecting her "kind heart" and youthful dreams.
Princess Deokhye will also make a surprise appearance as a docent, with her voice recreated using artificial intelligence (AI). By scanning the QR codes installed at Nakseonjae, Seokbokheon, and Sugangjae, visitors can listen to Princess Deokhye's explanations on their smartphones.
Meanwhile, the event will also feature performances and hands-on activities that express the unique significance of Nakseonjae's time and space.
At 2:30 p.m. on October 8, the opening day, the courtyard in front of Nakseonjae at Changdeokgung Palace will host performances by the Hwadongjeongjae Arts Troupe, including royal court dances and music such as "Abakhyangbalhapsul," "Chunaengjeon," "Geommu," and "Daegeum Solo."
In the experience zone set up in the courtyard, visitors can participate in activities such as making flat knot bracelets, playing the traditional puzzle game Chilgyo, watching cloisonne craft demonstrations, and trying royal court hair braiding.
Additionally, educational programs will be offered, inviting about 20 students and parents from Jahye School, a special needs school in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, as well as about 60 children and parents from multicultural families, to attend the exhibition and participate in hands-on activities.
The exhibition is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is free on October 8 and 9, which fall during the Chuseok holiday.
The Korean Imperial Culture Center is an organization established to restore the historical legacy and preserve the spirit of the Joseon and Korean Empire royal families. It has been promoting various aspects of Korean culture, including royal culture (K-Royal Culture), both domestically and internationally.
Meanwhile, in addition to "100 Years of Time and Scenery at Nakseonjae," the 2025 Autumn Royal Culture Festival will feature a variety of events at other palaces and Jongmyo Shrine, including Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Deoksugung Palace, and Changgyeonggung Palace.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
