Why Does Seoul Have Five Royal Palaces? A Beginner’s Guide to Korea’s Joseon Palaces
HANYBARAM · KOREAN HISTORY & CULTURE
Why Does Seoul Have Five Royal Palaces?
A Beginner’s Guide to Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung & Gyeonghuigung
Ask a first-time traveler to name a royal palace in Seoul, and Gyeongbokgung Palace will probably be the first answer.
But Seoul does not have just one royal palace.
Hidden across the historic center of the city are five major royal palaces associated with the Joseon Dynasty: Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Gyeonghuigung.
At first, they can look like variations of the same experience: traditional gates, tiled roofs, painted wooden buildings and spacious courtyards.
But they are not five versions of the same palace.
Each tells a different story about Korean kings, royal families, government, architecture, war, reconstruction and the transformation of Seoul itself.
UNDERSTANDING KOREA
Seoul’s five royal palaces are not five versions of the same place.
They are five different windows into the history of Korea’s royal capital.
01 · THE BIG QUESTION
Why Does Seoul Have Five Royal Palaces?
To understand the answer, it helps to stop thinking of a palace as simply “the king’s house.”
A royal palace was a complex world.
It was a place for government and ceremony, but also a residence for the king, queen, royal relatives and members of the court.
When the Joseon Dynasty established Hanyang, today’s Seoul, as its capital, Gyeongbokgung was constructed as the principal palace.
But a dynasty lasting more than five centuries could not remain centered on one unchanged building complex.
Additional palaces were built and used for different reasons. Royal family needs changed. Political circumstances changed. Fires and wars damaged palace buildings. Kings sometimes preferred one residence over another.
As a result, the center of royal life shifted between palaces at different moments in Korean history.
The easiest way to understand the five palaces
Do not ask, “Which palace is the best?” First ask, “What part of Korean history does this palace help me understand?”
02 · THE MAIN PALACE
Gyeongbokgung: The Starting Point
For most first-time visitors, Gyeongbokgung Palace is the best place to begin understanding Korea’s royal palaces.
Built at the beginning of the Joseon Dynasty, it served as the dynasty’s principal palace.
Its broad courtyards, major gates and formal halls make the structure of royal authority relatively easy to see.
But Gyeongbokgung becomes much more interesting when you stop looking at it only as a collection of beautiful buildings.
Some spaces were associated with formal ceremonies. Others were connected with royal administration, the king’s work or the private life of the royal household.
HANYBARAM VIEW
Think of Gyeongbokgung as the palace that introduces the formality, scale and authority of the Joseon royal court.
That is why the next individual palace article in this series will return to Gyeongbokgung and explore how to actually read the palace as you walk through it.
03 · PALACE & NATURE
Changdeokgung: Where Architecture Follows the Landscape
If Gyeongbokgung introduces royal formality, Changdeokgung Palace offers a different experience.
Originally constructed as a secondary palace, Changdeokgung later became an important center of royal life and was used by Joseon kings for long periods.
Its most memorable quality is the relationship between architecture and the surrounding landscape.
Buildings, courtyards, slopes and garden spaces respond to the natural terrain rather than simply forcing the entire palace into one rigid geometric pattern.
This relationship is one reason Changdeokgung is especially important in the history of Korean architecture.
The Changdeokgung Palace Complex was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.
Travelers interested in Korean architecture, gardens, seasonal scenery and the relationship between buildings and nature.
04 · ROYAL FAMILY LIFE
Changgyeonggung: Beyond the King’s Throne
A palace was not only a stage for politics.
It was also a home.
Changgyeonggung Palace, located beside Changdeokgung, became closely associated with the residential needs of members of the royal family.
That makes it especially interesting for travelers who want to imagine what life inside a royal palace involved beyond ceremonies and official government business.
Together with Changdeokgung, it formed part of the eastern palace area traditionally known as Donggwol, or the Eastern Palaces.
Changgyeonggung helps visitors remember that the palace was also a place of family relationships, daily routines and private royal life.
05 · A CHANGING KOREA
Deoksugung: Where Royal Korea Meets the Modern Era
Deoksugung Palace feels different from the other royal palaces.
That difference is part of its story.
Previously known as Gyeongungung, the palace became particularly important during the turbulent period at the end of the Joseon Dynasty and the beginning of the Korean Empire.
After the Korean Empire was proclaimed in 1897, Emperor Gojong used the palace as an imperial center.
For modern visitors, Deoksugung therefore provides a fascinating transition between Korea’s traditional royal world and a country confronting modernity and international change.
Why Deoksugung matters
It helps tell the story of Korea not only as a Joseon kingdom, but as a nation entering a dramatically different modern age.
06 · THE LESSER-KNOWN PALACE
Gyeonghuigung: A Palace Many Travelers Miss
Among Seoul’s five royal palaces, Gyeonghuigung is often the least familiar to international visitors.
Historically, however, the palace complex was much larger than what visitors see today.
It served as one of the royal residences and was sometimes known as the Western Palace because of its location in relation to the other major palaces.
Much of the historic complex did not survive intact.
For that reason, Gyeonghuigung offers a different kind of historical experience.
Instead of seeing only what remains, visitors can also think about what Seoul has lost, rebuilt and remembered.
07 · QUICK COMPARISON
The Five Royal Palaces at a Glance
You do not need to visit all five palaces to understand Seoul’s royal history.
Instead, choose according to the story you most want to experience.
| Palace | Main Story | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Gyeongbokgung | Joseon’s principal palace | First-time visitors |
| Changdeokgung | Architecture & nature | Heritage and gardens |
| Changgyeonggung | Royal residential life | Quieter history-focused visits |
| Deoksugung | Late royal & imperial history | Modern Korean history |
| Gyeonghuigung | A partially lost royal landscape | History lovers & repeat visitors |
08 · CHOOSE YOUR PALACE
Which Seoul Palace Should You Visit First?
If this is your first trip to Korea, start with Gyeongbokgung.
It gives you the clearest introduction to the scale and formal structure of a Joseon royal palace.
If you can visit a second palace, Changdeokgung makes an excellent contrast.
Together, the two show different sides of Korean royal architecture: one strongly associated with the formal main palace, the other famous for its relationship with natural terrain.
Choose Gyeongbokgung.
Choose Changdeokgung.
Explore Changgyeonggung.
Visit Deoksugung.
Discover Gyeonghuigung.
09 · CONNECT THE STORY
From the National Museum of Korea to Seoul’s Palaces
If you have already explored the National Museum of Korea, Seoul’s royal palaces are a natural next step.
Inside a museum, you encounter objects, art, archaeology and historical context.
Inside a palace, history becomes spatial.
You begin to see where ceremonies were held, where royal authority was expressed, and where members of the royal household lived.
THE HANYBARAM KOREAN CULTURE JOURNEY
National Museum of Korea
↓
Five Royal Palaces of Seoul
↓
Gyeongbokgung & Changdeokgung
↓
Hanok · Ondol · Korean Home Culture
↓
Darye · Korean Tea Culture
Seen this way, Korea’s museums, palaces and traditional homes are not separate tourist attractions.
They are connected parts of the same cultural story.
10 · SLOW TRAVEL
A Simple Royal Palace Day in Seoul
Trying to see all five palaces in one day is not the best way to experience them.
For a first visit, two palaces are enough.
MORNING
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Begin with the scale and formality of the main palace.
LATE MORNING
Gwanghwamun & Historic Seoul
Walk through the surrounding historic center.
LUNCH
Jongno or Insadong
Take time for lunch instead of racing to another attraction.
AFTERNOON
Changdeokgung Palace
Compare the formal royal world with architecture shaped by the landscape.
LATE AFTERNOON
Traditional Tea or a Quiet Neighborhood Walk
Finish the day slowly and connect palace history with another side of Korean culture.
11 · BEFORE YOU VISIT
Simple Palace Etiquette
Korea’s royal palaces are beautiful places to photograph, but they are also important cultural heritage sites.
- Respect barriers and restricted areas.
- Do not touch historic structures or decorative elements.
- Keep noise reasonable in quiet areas.
- Follow photography restrictions where posted.
- Wear hanbok respectfully if you choose to rent one.
- Check official visitor information before your trip.
Opening hours, closing days, admission policies, guided tours, garden access and special events can change. Always confirm current information on the official palace website before visiting.
EXPERIENCE KOREA BEYOND THE TOURIST SPOTS
Don’t visit a Korean palace only to see beautiful buildings.
Look at where the king worked.
Where the royal family lived.
How architecture met nature.
And how Korea changed around these walls.
12 · FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Seoul’s Royal Palaces
What are the five royal palaces of Seoul?
The five major Joseon royal palaces in Seoul are Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Gyeonghuigung.
Which Seoul palace should a first-time visitor see?
Gyeongbokgung is usually the easiest starting point for understanding the scale and formal organization of a Joseon royal palace.
Which palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
The Changdeokgung Palace Complex was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.
Are Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung the same kind of experience?
No. Gyeongbokgung is especially useful for understanding the formal principal palace, while Changdeokgung is particularly known for the relationship between palace architecture and the surrounding landscape.
Can I visit all five royal palaces in one day?
Trying to visit all five can make the experience feel rushed. For a first visit, exploring one or two palaces slowly is usually a better way to understand their history and architecture.
KEEP EXPLORING
Continue Your Korean Culture Journey
🏛 National Museum of Korea Guide: Highlights, Hours & Travel Tips
Explore Korean history and art before stepping into Seoul’s royal spaces.
🏠 Why Koreans Take Off Their Shoes at Home: Ondol, Floor Living & Korean Home Culture
Move from royal architecture to the traditions that shaped everyday Korean homes.
👑 King Jeongjo’s Royal Procession & Suwon’s Cultural Festival
See how Korea continues to remember and reinterpret its royal history.
🍵 Traditional Korean Tea Houses: What to Expect on Your First Visit
Continue from palace history into another quieter side of Korean culture.
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NEXT IN THE HANYBARAM PALACE SERIES
Gyeongbokgung Palace Explained: How to Understand Korea’s Main Royal Palace
What was the throne hall used for? Where did the king work? Where did the royal family live? The next Hanybaram palace guide will explore Gyeongbokgung beyond its famous photo spots.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Five Palaces, Five Different Stories
Seoul’s royal palaces are often introduced as beautiful historic attractions.
But their real meaning becomes clearer when you stop treating them as interchangeable places.
Gyeongbokgung introduces the formal world of Joseon’s principal palace.
Changdeokgung reveals a remarkable relationship between architecture and landscape.
Changgyeonggung brings us closer to the residential world of the royal family.
Deoksugung reflects Korea during a period of dramatic historical change.
And Gyeonghuigung reminds us that understanding history also means thinking about what has disappeared.
Five palaces.
Five stories.
One extraordinary royal city.
The next time you walk through a palace gate in Seoul, look beyond the tiled roofs.
You are entering another chapter of Korea’s story.
