Injeongjeon Hall served as the main hall for the royal family in the Joseon Dynasty. It had replaced the Geunjeongjeon Hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace, which was burned down during the Japanese invasion of Korea. It was the venue of official events such as welcoming the Chinese envoys and holding national ceremonies. During King Jeongjo's reign, the Injeongjeon Hall was used for announcing the results of the higher civil and military service examinations.
Injeongjeon Hall was first built along with Changdeokgung Palace in 1405, the 5th year of King Taejong’s reign. After several repairs, the present state of the building was built in 1804, the 4th year of King Sunjo.
Injeongjeon Hall was a two-story building. It has an eave with a complex bracket structure, which symbolizes the style of the late Joseon Dynasty. Inside the hall, two sculptures of a phoenix are hanging on the ceiling, and there is a folding screen with the painting “The Sun, the Moon, and the Five Peaks” behind the throne. The top of the roof was decorated with a plum design, which symbolized the imperial family during the Enlightenment Period.
Before the restoration project, the Injeongjeon Hall performed another form of decoration. Considering the hall was used until the reign of King Sunjong of the Korean Empire, it was once decorated with yellow curtains and cloth to match the imperial status of the Korean Empire. Also, modern lamps were installed, and the windows were made of glass. Also, the floor was constructed in a western style instead of the traditional flat stones. The Japanese had changed the form of the hall in the following ways: First, the flat stones were removed from the front yard and a field of glass was installed. Second, the royal seat and the painting “The Sun, the Moon, and the Five Peaks” were removed. Lastly, the surrounding front wings were removed too.
Fortunately, the Injeongjeon Hall was renovated afterwards and fully restored to its original form in the 1990s. Otherwise, it would be a huge loss in terms of cultural heritage.