Among the skyscrapers of Modern City Hall in Seoul you might be surprised to find a piece of zen paradise, but the Deoksu Palace provides a welcome break from the fast paced rat race of city hall.
Deoksu Palace is located just outside City Hall Station exit 2 or Seoul Plaza just cross the road. Deoksu Palace (덕수궁) has history dating back over 500years and unlike the other Seoul Grand palaces included more modern colonial buildings built during Japanese rule. The Palace was also home to the last Korean Emperor of the Joseon Dynasty “Sunjong” (융희제).
The palace includes a number of small gardens, fountains and statues. Also if you are lucky you might be treated to some free traditional music or dance, as local theatres often offer free demonstrations within the palace grounds.
Location
Here is a Google map showing the location of Deoksu Palace:
Links
More Information on Deoksu Palace can be found here:
Also in the same area is the G Square, more information here: https://modernseoul.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/gwanghwamun-square-seoul/
Thank you and let us know if you have any questions.
Modern Seoul
Modern Seoul 
Dear All,
There’s a song titled “눈물꽃 (Tears of Rose) themed on the Last Princess of Chosun Dynasty who was called Deokhye Onju that was forced to be relocated in Tsushima Japan by the military government and finally back to Seoul Korea at the time of all changes after the days of the Dynasty and had to live with the dementia. The place of Deoksu palace always reminds us of the Dynasty and the Last Princess. And here we keep her in mind by listening to the special song. I introduce here at the blog the address having the music that keeps the Last Princess Deokhye as long as we live. –>
Thanks.
So a great and beautiful music! I love it. But I hope I could understand what’s lyric standing for. Thank U.
Here I want to share with all English speaker on the Last Princess (덕혜옹주)’s Rose of Tears (눈물꽃) in English version. It’s about the same song which is shown above and recently uploaded in Youtube. I found it also touching our hearts with better understanding what the lyric means, but it should be understood not only literally but also with a full heart toward the beautiful person once lived in our history.
Hope you love this also. Thank you.
I served with the Palace Guard….U.S. 1947 thru 1948 and spent many hours at the Deoksu Palace day and night and was present when the UN had their Meetings there and greeted the then President of South Korea Syhgman Rhee and held the door (vehicle) open at the bottom of the steps of the Meeting Building even though he had a very heavy Security personnel along in a 2nd vehicle…so I have very fond memories of Korea….