Deoksu Palace Guest House Opens to Visitors

The restoration is part of a plan by the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) of Korea to restore the original state of the royal palaces, which were damaged during Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.

The two-story Dondeokjeon, first built during the reign of Emperor Gojong around 1901, was used to receive foreign guests. It is also the historical site where his son, Emperor Sunjong, was enthroned in 1907.

According to historical records, Dondeokjeon was built with a European-style exterior. The interior was lavishly decorated with gold curtains and wallpaper symbolizing the emperor. However, the building was destroyed in the 1930s when the Japanese government turned the palace into a children's amusement park.

It took the Korean government about six years to rebuild Dondeokjeon after excavation work began in 2017. CHA restored the building to its original location and appearance based on research on excavated remains from the site, such as floor tiles and bricks, as well as photographs, documents, and newspaper reports. However, CHA added an exhibition hall, a library, and a cultural and artistic event hall inside to make the most of this historic site located in the heart of the city. There is also a space for exhibitions and international events on the first floor.

The second floor is used for a permanent exhibition highlighting the importance of Dondeokjeon in modern Korean history and the diplomacy of the Korean Empire. The exhibition consists of five parts that introduce the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Korean Empire and various countries, including the United States and Denmark, after the signing of the international treaty with Japan in 1876, and highlights major events in its history. The exhibition also depicts the lives and activities of Korean diplomats during the turbulent period. A book archive and video materials have also been set up on this floor.

The CHA will hold a ceremony to mark the opening of Dondeokjeon Hall on the afternoon of September 25. The ceremony will be attended by about 90 people, including South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and CHA Director Choi Eung-chon, as well as foreign ambassadors to Korea.

The CHA Deoksu Palace Management Office said that through the restoration of the most important cultural heritage in Korea's modern diplomatic history, the CHA will restore the historical space of the past and utilize the area for future cultural exchange activities.