Changdeokgung's Heart with Modern Touches Opens...Special Access to Injeongjeon Hall Interior Next Month

The essence of transitional architecture combining tradition and modernity, including chandeliers and glass windows
To protect cultural heritage, the number of visitors per session is limited to twenty...advance reservations required on weekends

The Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the National Heritage Administration announced on the 25th that it will open the interior of Injeongjeon Hall at Changdeokgung Palace, a symbolic space of the Joseon royal family, to the general public for one month starting from March 4. Visitors, who normally only circle around the outside, will be led into the heart of the palace to experience the grandeur of the main hall.

Injeongjeon Hall was the key hall where major state affairs such as royal enthronement ceremonies and receptions for foreign envoys were held. Its single open-story structure from top to bottom exudes magnificence, while the Irwolobongdo (Sun, Moon, and Five Peaks screen) behind the royal throne (Eoja) asserts solemn authority. Modern elements such as the chandelier lighting, glass windows, and wooden floor, installed in 1907 when Emperor Sunjong moved his residence, still remain, showcasing the quintessence of palace architecture during a time of transition.

The Royal Palaces and Tombs Center will organize viewing programs tailored by day of the week, from Wednesday to Sunday. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, the program will be combined with regular guided tours and offered in Korean and foreign languages. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, it will be linked with the in-depth guided tour “Exploring Changdeokgung in Depth,” which takes visitors through the work spaces of palace officials and delves deeply into the hidden side of the palace.

To protect cultural heritage, the number of visitors per session will be limited to twenty. For Friday, Saturday, and Sunday viewings, only fifteen people with advance reservations made through the integrated reservation website and five on-site registrants aged 65 or older will be admitted. However, in case of rain, access to the interior will be blocked to prevent damage to the wooden cultural property.