Changdeokgung Palace

A UNESCO-listed Joseon Dynasty palace in Seoul, renowned for its Secret Garden — landscape-integrated architecture at its finest, and unforgettable in autumn.

Changdeokgung Palace is one of the Five Grand Palaces of the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897) and is regarded as one of the most beautiful surviving palaces in Korea. Located in the Jongno district of Seoul, east of Gyeongbokgung, it is known together with Changgyeonggung as the "East Palace." Unlike other palaces built on a strict axis, Changdeokgung follows the natural terrain — pavilions, ponds, and pathways blend harmoniously into the landscape. The centerpiece is the Biwon, the "Secret Garden": a vast, naturalistic garden ensemble with ancient trees, ponds, and pleasure pavilions, reserved for centuries exclusively for the king and his entourage. Since 1997 the palace complex has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is especially popular in autumn, when the Biwon blazes with red and gold foliage.