Changdeokgung Facts for Kids

Changdeokgung Palace

Changdeokgung is a famous royal palace in South Korea. It is one of the five main palaces built during the Joseon Dynasty. The other four grand palaces are Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung, and Gyeonghuigung. These palaces were not all built at the same time. Changdeokgung was first built as a second palace, close to Gyeongbokgung.

The name Changdeokgung means 'the palace of prospering virtue'. 'Changdeok' means 'prospering virtue', and 'gung' means 'palace'. Because of this special meaning, many kings of the Joseon Dynasty chose to live here.

History of Changdeokgung Palace
Visiting Changdeokgung Today
Images for kids
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History of Changdeokgung Palace

Building the Palace

The building of Changdeokgung started in 1405. This was during the rule of King Taejong, the third king of the Joseon Dynasty. It took seven years to build. The palace was finally finished in 1412.

Destruction and Rebuilding

Changdeokgung was home to 14 kings of the Joseon Dynasty. But in 1592, the palace was completely destroyed. This happened when the Japanese army invaded. After the Japanese forces were pushed back, Changdeokgung was rebuilt. This rebuilding finished in 1612.

After its reconstruction, Changdeokgung became the main royal palace. This was because Gyeongbokgung, another major palace, was also destroyed. For some reason, the Joseon Dynasty did not rebuild Gyeongbokgung right away. So, Changdeokgung became the largest palace in Korea.

Modern Restoration

Over 350 years after its rebuilding, Changdeokgung suffered some damage. Because of this, a big restoration project took place. This project lasted from 1990 to 1999. This shows how much the Korean people cared for Changdeokgung.

The UNESCO also recognized the palace's importance. They saw Changdeokgung as a very valuable global treasure. UNESCO listed it as a World Cultural Heritage. They said Changdeokgung was an "outstanding example of Far Eastern palace architecture and garden design."

Visiting Changdeokgung Today

Changdeokgung is located in a park in Seoul. Seoul is the capital city of South Korea. Today, 13 buildings from the original palace still stand. The entire area is known as Historical Site No. 122.

Many tourists from all over the world visit this historic place. Changdeokgung is also a lovely park. Families often come here to enjoy their weekends.