attractions

Jungmyeongjeon Hall (중명전)

41-11, Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

About

Explore Jungmyeongjeon Hall, a striking red-brick building that stands near Deoksugung Palace. Once the imperial library, this site offers a vivid window into Korea’s early 20th-century history. Visitors should expect an educational experience, moving through an exhibition hall detailing the nation’s pivotal, and sometimes painful, moments. History buffs and those interested in the modern royal past will find this site particularly insightful. While the timing isn't specified, visiting during daylight hours allows you to appreciate its unique Western architecture against the traditional backdrop of Seoul.

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Located near Deoksugung Palace, Jungmyeongjeon Hall is a red-brick modern Western-style building. It was built in 1899 as the imperial library of the Korean Empire. After Deoksugung Palace caught on fire in 1904, the place became the temporary residence of Emperor Gojong. It also witnessed the tragic part of history in which the infamous Eulsa Treaty (Japan-Korea Protectorate Treaty), an illegal treaty forced by Japan, was signed in 1905. Its exhibition hall serves as a place for historical education.

Information

Phone

+82-2-752-7525

Website

https://royal.khs.go.kr/ROYAL/contents/menuInfo-dsg.do?grpCode=dsg

Hours

09:30-17:30

Closed

Mondays, Day of Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) & Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day)

Parking

Not available

Fee