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Duksugung Palace Duksugung Palace was originally built as a residential palace for the prince Wulsan, the elder brother of King Sungjong, the 9th king of Chosun Dynasty. The exact date of the construction of the building is uncertain, King Sunjo, the 14th king of Chosun Dynasty took up residence within this villa as the other palaces had been burned down due to the Japanese invasion when he came back from Uiju in the province of Pyunganbukdo province where he took refuge in the 15th century. King Sunjo passed away here, and King Gwanghae, who ascended to the throne as the 15th king of Chosun Dynasty, reconstructed the Changdokkung Palace, and then he moved into it. Agter that, the old palace was renamed Kyungungung Palace and was left as a royal villa. When Injo, the 16th king of Chosun Dynasty, ascended to the throne, he renamed this palace as Myungryegung Palace. After that, the palace was left in ruin until King Gojong, the 26th king of Chosun Dynasty, moved there form Kyungbokkung Palace on February 21th in the 33rd year of his reign. He lived in the palace for 23 years until he passed away on Janyary 21th, 1919. King Sunjong who moved to the Changdokkung Palace in 1907 renamed the palace, 'Duksugung Palace', which means the palace of virtue of life, to wish his royal father a long life. Daehanmn Gate Daehanmun Gate is the main gate of Duksugung Palace. Its former name was 'Daeanmun Gate' when the name of the palace was myungryegugn Palace. King Gojong, the 26th king of Chosun Dynasty had the name of the palace restored to its original name 'Kyungungung Palace', and the name of the gate changed from 'Daeanmun' to 'Daehanmun' in 1897, the last era of Kwangmu. Sukjojun Sukjojun is a modern style stone building which was built in 1909 by Mr. Brown, a British architect. The designer of the building was aboter Briton whose name was Mr. Barding. Mr. Robell was the interior decorator, and Mr. Davison was the engineer. Since 1966 the building was used as a national museum building until it was moved to the Kyungbokkung Place. Sukjojun building was once used as the headquarters of the American Soviet commission for the Unification of Korea. It is now an art gallery with fine collections of paintings, calligraphy writings, sculptures and many outstading Koryo porcelains. |