A Night at Changgyeonggung Palace- Where the Past and Present Meet

A few years ago, I visited the Night Opening of Changgyeonggung Palace. Before I got there, I was expecting it to be a series of the same old, boring buildings as any other palace in Seoul. However, the day’s experience turned out to be a long-lasting, unforgettable memory that I still miss today. As I was walking along the palace walls illuminated by glimmering yellow lights, I was welcomed by the grand Honghwamun gate. Passing it through, I was led by the Pumgyeseok, ranking stones used back during the Joseon dynasty, towards the main building, Myeongjeongjeon. The harmony between the lights of the modern world and the buildings of the Joseon dynasty was breathtaking. But the finale was yet to come. When I reached Chundangji, the pond, and the grand greenhouse, the view became so spectacular that it felt almost surreal. The night opening of Changgyeonggung Palace erased the boundaries between all timelines, making me feel like the past and present coexisted. Remembering this charming day, I would like to share with you the unique experiences that Changgyeonggung’s night opening can bring to all of us. 

Before we go deeper into the nighttime of Changgyeonggung Palace, let’s first learn about the palace itself. Changgyeonggung Palace is one of the five main palaces of the Joseon dynasty, located in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Since it was built on the east side of Seoul, along with Changdeokgung Palace, it has also been called the East Palace. In 1483, the 9th king, Seongjong, originally built this palace for the three queens. During the Japanese Invasion, Changgyeonggung Palace actively served its purpose as a palace. However, when the Japanese later colonized Korea, they demolished most of the buildings in Changgyeonggung Palace and turned them into a zoo, also changing its name to ‘Changgyeongwon.’ Fortunately, Changgyeonggung Palace has been in the process of restoration beginning in 1983, overcoming its past scars. 

Along with its cultural significance, all parts of Changgyeonggung Palace shine beautifully during the night opening. Out of those parts, there are three places specifically that I would like to emphasize more for you to feel their beauty with your hearts. 

 The first is Myeongjeongjeon, the main hall of Changgyeonggung Palace. Myeongjeongjeon was used as a place for the country's big events and the welcoming of foreign envoys. Its historical significance is that it is the oldest of all the main halls of Joseon’s palaces, serving as a great reference for 17th-century wooden architecture. At night, the light shining from Myeongjeongjeon blends perfectly with the light from the urban city, creating a great harmony between the past and present of Seoul. The area of Myeongjeongjeon is free from high skyscrapers compared to other palaces, so visitors can feel the unique charm of Changgyeonggung Palace surrounded by nature. 

 Second is the Grand Greenhouse. The Grand Greenhouse is Korea’s first Western-style building. Although it just looks like a beautiful building on the exterior, it holds great importance as a place representing the pain of the Japanese colonial period since it was built when the Japanese were turning Changgyeonggung Palace into a zoo. It is mostly built using iron and glass. Because of this trait, the light glimmering out from the greenhouse looks like a bright ‘snowglobe,’ creating a mythical atmosphere. 

 Last is the Chundanggi, the pond of Changgyeonggung Palace. During the Joseon dynasty, this pond used to be a little field for the king and the queen to grow crops on. However, during the Japanese Colonial Period, an artificial pond was created. Nowadays, the pond features characteristics of traditional Korean ponds; for instance, the island in the middle of the pond is a common trait seen in other Korean ponds. The scene around Chundanggi is quite dark; however, the pond’s position allows the tree in the central island to shine brightly, reflected directly on the waters of the pond. You can easily feel the harmony between nature, water, and the lights in Chundanggi. 

Listening to the descriptions of the night opening of Changgyeonggung Palace, doesn’t it make you want to visit there in person? Well, good for you, because Changgyeonggung Palace is holding another night opening session this year! It happens from Mar. 7 to Dec. 31, starting at 7:00 PM. Also, there will be a special event called ‘2025 Water colored Changgyeonggung Palace’. Through this event, you can see lots of themed media arts and lighting displays all over Changgyeonggung Palace, including Chundanggi. Another tip for those of you planning on going to the night opening is to sign up for a tour guide program. Walking along the night path while hearing the stories of Changgyeonggung Palace will make your experience even more special. 

Visit the night opening of Changgyeonggung Palace this year, and create a precious memory!

If you’re interested and wish to learn more about the palaces of Joseon, I recommend you to visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main palace of Joseon! You can easily reserve your visit through the link below :)

https://thegunggwol.imweb.me/Preview

Eunu Baek

Works Cited

Korea Heritage. “2025 창경궁 야간개장.” Korea Heritage, 2025, https://www.kh.or.kr/cont/view/fest/month/menu/210?thisPage=1&idx=109969&searchCategory1=600&searchCategory2=&searchCategory3=&searchField=all&searchDate=202503&weekSel=undefined&searchType=&searchText=.

Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. "창경궁 (Changyeonggung)." Encyclopedia of Korean Culture, 2025, https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0055319.

Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. "창경궁 (Changyeonggung)." Encyclopedia of Korean Culture, 2025, https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0077593.

Visit Korea. "Changyeonggung Palace Night Opening." Visit Korea, 2025, https://korean.visitkorea.or.kr/detail/rem_detail.do?cotid=3bae667d-08d2-461b-a117-41bb63ac79f5.

Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. "창경궁 (Changyeonggung)." Encyclopedia of Korean Culture, 2025, https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0055322.

Dapsa Blog. "창경궁 야경과 그 매력." Dapsa Blog, 2025, https://dapsa.kr/blog/?p=2653.