Changgyeonggung Palace: Entrance Fee & Grand Greenhouse
Changgyeonggung Palace, located next to Changdeokgung Palace, is small but it has Korea's first Western-style greenhouse. I've summarized the entrance fee, opening hours, and the sad history of this place.eenhouse called the Grand Greenhouse.
Changgyeonggung Palace
In 1418, King Sejong built this palace next to Changdeokgung Palace to honor his father, former King Taejong.
⭐ King Sejong is one of the most important figures in Korean history. He created Hangeul, the Korean alphabet that Koreans use to this day. In front of Gyeongbokgung Palace, you can also see a large statue commemorating him at Gwanghwamun Square.
His portrait also appears on the obverse of the South Korean 10,000 won banknote. If you're curious about Korean Won bills, I wrote a blog post summarizing the significant figures and elements featured on each. You can check it out here:
It was in 1484 that King Seongjong expanded the palace and named it Changgyeonggung (창경궁), which means 'to govern the nation well and widely'.
The atmosphere at Changgyeonggung Palace was more relaxed and humble than at other palaces. I loved walking around in the natural scenery.
Changgyeonggung Palace was destroyed during the Imjin Japanese Invasion of 1592 and again in the Joseon Dynasty uprising of 1624. It got fixed later on. In the time of Japanese rule, about 60 palace buildings were taken apart. The palace began to be restored in 1983. But until now, only about 20 percent of the original structures have been restored.
In autumn, the trees around the Chundangji Pond turn yellow and red with fall foliage, making it a very nice spot for viewing the beautiful colors of the changing season.
The Octagonal Seven-story Stone Pagoda located near Chundangji Pond has a different appearance than typical Korean stone pagodas. This pagoda was made in China in 1470.
Changgyeonggung Palace Free Guided Tours
These free English tours start from the 'Changgyeonggung Palace Guided Tours' sign at Okcheongyo Bridge, after entering through the main gate, Honghwamun. Tours are at 11 AM and 4 PM, each lasting about 1 hour.
| Language | Days | Time |
|---|---|---|
| English | Tuesday to Sunday | 11 AM, 4 PM |
| Chinese | Tuesday to Sunday | 9:30 AM, 3 PM |
- No reservation required.
The main gate, Honghwamun
Okcheongyo Bridge
Grand Greenhouse
A tragic history is behind this unique, elegant-looking space. I didn't know this until now.
When Sunjong became king in 1907, he moved the royal residence from Deoksugung to Changdeokgung.
"For Sunjong", Japan demolished the buildings at Changgyeonggung Palace next to Changdeokgung. They built a zoo and botanical garden at the palace. They transformed the palace into an amusement park.
They undermined the Joseon Dynasty's authority and the existing hierarchy by turning the palace into a public park, while simultaneously promoting that they were treating the Korean imperial family well externally.
This grand greenhouse, completed in 1909, was the first Western-style greenhouse in Korea. It was designed by Japanese architects and constructed by a French company.
The zoo was open for public viewing since 1909 and continued to operate even after independence from Japanese rule until 1983 when it was closed to facilitate the restoration of Changgyeonggung Palace.
In 1911, Japan changed the name of this place from Changgyeonggung to Changgyeongwon (창경원). In Korean, '궁' means 'palace', and '원' means 'park'. In 1983, as part of the restoration plan, the name was restored to Changgyeonggung.
Changgyeonggung Palace's zoo in 1975 © archives.go.kr
- Grand Greenhouse interior opening hours:
| Season | Opening Hours |
|---|---|
| December to February | 9 AM - 6 PM |
| March to November | 9 AM - 9 PM |
Changgyeonggung Palace Map
How to get to Changgyeonggung Palace?
- Address: 185 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- Subway Station:
- 15 minutes on foot from Hyehwa Station on Subway Line 4
- 20 minutes on foot from Jongno 5-ga Station on Subway Line 1
- Website: 🔗 Changgyeonggung Palace
Changgyeonggung Palace is located right next to Changdeokgung Palace. Changdeokgung is uniquely listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site among all the palaces from the Joseon Dynasty.
The Secret Garden within Changdeokgung Palace is extremely popular and reservations fill up quickly. If you're planning to visit, check their reservation process in this post:
Changgyeonggung Palace Entrance Fee, Opening Hours
🟡 Closed on Mondays Changgyeonggung Palace is closed every Monday.
- If the palace closure date falls on a public holiday (including compensatory holidays), the palace will be open. In this case, the first non-public holiday after the open holiday becomes the new closure date.
| Days | Opening Hours | Last Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday - Sunday | 9 AM to 9 PM | 8 PM |
- Although the palace is open until 9 PM, there are barricades placed in certain locations starting at 6 PM that limit access to some parts of the grounds.
🟡 Entrance Fee:
| Age | KRW |
|---|---|
| Children (0 to 18) | Free |
| Adults (19 to 64) | 1,000 |
| Adults (65 and above) | Free |
- ✔️ Visitors wearing hanbok can enter for free.
- ✔️ Every last Wednesday of the month is Culture Day, and you can enter for free.
Wrap-up
You can explore and take a leisurely stroll at Changggyeonggung Palace, which has lower entrance fees and longer opening hours than other palaces. It's right next to Changdeokgung Palace in Jongno. It's not as fancy as other palaces, but I see it as a sad palace that has experienced loss and restoration repeatedly.
Credits
The images featured in this post are courtesy of the Changgyeonggung Palace's website and instagram.