Changgyeonggung (Seoul)

 palace, museum

Changgyeonggung was originally built in 1104 as a summer palace, "Suganggung", by King Sejong for the kings of the Koryo Dynasty. When the capital was moved to Seoul in 1392, the King lived here during the construction of the new palace - Gyeongbokgung. In 1483 the palace was renovated and enlarged by King Seongjong and consequentially renamed Changgyeonggung.


Unlike Chosun Dynasty palaces that have a north-south orientation, Changgyeonggung Palace has an east-west orientation, like many buildings of the Koryo period.

During the Japanese colonial period, the Japanese built a zoo, botanical garden, and museum on the palace grounds but 1983 the zoo and botanical garden were transferred to other locations. Changgyeonggung, like the other Five Grand Palaces in Seoul, was heavily damaged by the Japanese.