The Naekseonjae area of Changdeokgung Palace, which is usually restricted to visitors, will be temporarily opened through a special guided tour program. The Changdeokgung Management Office of the Cultural Heritage Administration’s Royal Palaces and Tombs Headquarters (Director Oh Taek-geun) announced that the “Naekseonjae Embracing Spring” special guided tour program will be held from March 21 to 27.
Naekseonjae is a building constructed in 1847 by King Heonjong as a study and relaxation space. The following year, Sukbokheon and Sugangjae were added for concubine Gyeongbin Kim and Queen Sunwon, the widow of King Sunjo, respectively, giving it the characteristics of a detached palace. This place, known for its elegant and refined architectural beauty, is a space filled with the poignant stories of King Heonjong and Gyeongbin Kim. It also served as a historic residence for members of the Korean Empire’s royal family, including Princess Deokhye, until 1989.
The special program will explore the background of Naekseonjae’s creation and its architectural features in depth, accompanied by explanations from cultural heritage guides. Participants will be able to enjoy the various scenic views of the Naekseonjae area, including flower beds in bloom, pavilions, and flower walls, while gaining insights into the lifestyle of the royal family.
The program is open to the general public with a minimum age requirement of middle school students, and each session can accommodate up to 24 participants. Participation is free, but there is a separate admission fee for Changdeokgung Palace. The program runs for about an hour, with two sessions held daily at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Applications for participation can be submitted on the Changdeokgung Management Office website (royal.khs.go.kr/cdg) from 10 a.m. on March 13 to 5 p.m. on March 16. Participants will be selected through a lottery, and each person can apply up to two times. The winners will be announced on the website after 2 p.m. on March 17, and individual text notifications will also be provided.
A representative from the Changdeokgung Management Office stated, “We hope that through this program, citizens will be able to fully experience the beauty of the royal palace in harmony with the spring blossoms,” adding, “We will continue to discover various palace experience programs in the future.”
For more details, please refer to the Changdeokgung Management Office website or contact them by phone at (02-3668-2300).
