Seoul Travel - Deoksugung Palace, Where East Meets West

After getting off at Seoul Station, I visited the nearby Deoksugung Palace. Deoksugung was a temporary palace during the Imjin War and later became an official royal palace known as Gyeongungung. 1️⃣ The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Deoksugung is Seokjojeon, built in a Western neoclassical style. It was designed by the British J.R. Harding and constructed with granite. 2️⃣ As it functioned as the main palace for the Joseon Dynasty and the Korean Empire, Deoksugung also houses the royal family's ranks and various pavilions. 3️⃣ Deoksugung consists of pavilions such as Jeukjodang and Junghwajeon, and it harmoniously blends Korean and Western architectural styles. 4️⃣ Like Gyeongbokgung, Changgyeonggung, and Changdeokgung, Deoksugung is located in downtown Seoul, so structures like the Bank of Korea, Seoul Station, and The Plaza Seoul Hotel are immediately visible nearby. 5️⃣ The Seokjojeon West Wing is currently being used as the Deoksugung Art Museum (a branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art), displaying various artworks, crafts, exhibition paintings, and relics. 6️⃣ Also, as many people know, Deoksugung is famous for its stone wall path, so be sure to visit.