Deoksugung

Deoksu or Deoksungung Palace is located at the busiest intersection point in downtown Seoul. Known for its elegant stone-walled avenue, it is also the only palace located along with a series of Western-style buildings that add a special touch to the surrounding landscape. Deoksu Palace originally belonged to To Grand Prince Wolsan of the Joseon Dynasty, it became a famous palace when Gwanghaegun ascended the throne and gave this royal residence the name "Jeongon Palace" in 1611. Over the following decades, the palace alternated between being an official palace and a place of residence. Temporary, it officially changed its name to Deoksu Palace in 1907. While the palace surrounds a vast area with many monumental buildings, the current palace grounds are only a small part of the former splendor, with very few ancient structures remaining to this day.