View of Changdeokgung Palace over the stone wall

On your trip to Bukchon, you shouldn’t miss the “Eight Scenic Views of Bukchon,” the eight greatest views of the village. Let’s go to the first spot.

At the first spot, you can see Changdeokgung Palace over the stone wall. The Palace was built in 1405 as the second palace in the Joseon Dynasty. To get to the spot, go up the street, passing Bukchon Cultural Center, and you’ll see a small four-way intersection. Then, go to a hill to the right. As you go near the top of the hill, the view of the Palace will slowly appear like a surprise gift for you. At first, you will see the side of the Injeongjeon Hall where the king managed state affairs. Then, there is Gyujanggak Library, the royal library and research center, and Seonwonjeon Hall, the place to hold memorial services for former kings.

Changdeokgung Palace was where kings stayed for the longest period of time. It was added to the UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage list in 1997. It is the only Joseon palace that was added to the list.

In the past, kings tried to show off their power by building magnificent and symmetrical palaces. The Forbidden City of China is a good example. Buildings of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the first palace of Joseon, were also built symmetrically. In comparison, Changdeokgung Palace was harmonized with its natural setting, as the terrain was preserved during the construction. Its original form has been best preserved among Joseon palaces. So, it became the first Korean palace designated as the World Cultural Heritage.

Kings loved this Palace, as it had a large garden that separated private and official areas, compared with Gyeongbokgung Palace where the two spaces were close together. It is said that most kings in the early Joseon Dynasty preferred this palace to Gyeongbokgung, except for King Sejong who devoted himself to managing state affairs.