Hwangyeongjeon Hall was used as a residence or council hall. The kings worked and slept here. The title means “joyful and happy”. The first king to live in Hwangyeongjeon Hall was King Jungjong. In his later years, he was sick and decided to spend the rest of his life in Hwangyeongjeon Hall.

Hwangyeongjeon Hall was built in 1484. It had gone through hardships in history; it was destroyed due to fire during the Japanese invasion of Korea and rebuilt in 1616. However, it was burned down again in 1830, and the current building was reconstructed in 1834.

Before being taken as a hostage by the Qing, Crown Prince Sohyeon, the eldest son of King Injo, resided in Hwangyeongjeon Hall. He returned to his family after nine years but passed away two months later, and the hall became empty again. It was until King Yeongjo and his son, Crown Prince Sado, moved their residence to Gyeongchunjeon Hall. In 1749, Crown Prince Sado was ordered to serve as a regent who was only 15 years old. He begged King Yeongjo to rescind the order, but King Yeongjo insisted on educating him more harshly.