Changdeokgung

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Changdeokgung
Official name	Changdeokgung Palace Complex
Location	South Korea
Reference	816
Inscription	1997 (21st Session)
Area	57.9 ha (0.224 sq mi)
Website	eng.cdg.go.kr/main/main.htm
Coordinates	37°34′46″N 126°59′34″E / 37.57944°N 126.99278°E / 37.57944; 126.99278
Location of Changdeokgung in Seoul Show map of Seoul Changdeokgung (South Korea) Show map of South Korea

Changdeokgung (Korean: 창덕궁; lit. The Palace of Prospering Virtue), also known as Changdeokgung Palace or Changdeok Palace, is set within a large park in Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the "Five Grand Palaces" built by the kings of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897).^[1] As it is located east of Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeokgung—along with Changgyeonggung—is also referred to as the "East Palace" (동궐; 東闕; Donggwol).

Changdeokgung was the most favored palace of many Joseon kings and retained many elements dating from the Three Kingdoms of Korea period that were not incorporated in the more contemporary Gyeongbokgung. One such element is the fact that the buildings of Changdeokgung blend with the natural topography of the site instead of imposing themselves upon it. Like the other Five Grand Palaces in Seoul, it was heavily damaged during the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910–1945). Currently, only about 30% of the pre-Japanese structures of the East Palace Complex (Changdeokgung together with Changgyeonggung) survive.^[2]