★ The Deoksugung Palace is the smallest palace among the five palaces of Joseon Dynasty. Yet, it is a place that remembers the most turbulent history of Joseon. In modern times of Joseon when the greed of Japan and the veiled enmity among foreign embassies reached a boiling point, Emperor Gojong endured the sorrow of losing his wife and his poisoning attempted by the Japanese officials, and had to silently bear the humiliation of having to take refuge at the Russian legation. The book unfolds the behind stories of the beautiful stone wall at the Deoksugung Palace where the Joseon Dynasty ended and the history of the Korean Empire began.
★ Publication right
★ Table of Contents
☆ Deoksugung Talk : Touring Seoul with a foreign friend
☆ Deoksugung Guide
☆ Deoksugung Map
☆ Changing of the Royal Guards Ceremony : Patrolling Seoul
☆ Gyeongungung vs. Deoksugung
☆ Daehanmun : Front gate of the Deoksugung Palace
☆ The secret behind palace gates
☆ Junghwamun/Junghwajeon
☆ The secret of twin dragons
☆ The secret behind palace main halls and ceiling patterns
☆ The last Emperor Gojong
☆ Jeong/deumu : Fire extinguisher in Joseon Dynasty
☆ Gwangmyeongmun : Rocket weapon in Joseon Dynasty
☆ Seokjojeon : The best art museum of South Korea
☆ Jeukjodang/Junmyeongdang/Seokeodang : Princess Deokhye's Kindergarten
☆ Hannyeongjeon/Jeonggwanheon : The first cafe of South Korea
☆ The poisoning of Gojong
☆ Deoksugung outside Deoksugung
★ Theme Travel News
☆ DeoksugungTalk : Touring Seoul with foreign friends
B-rated travel(B) : Hello?
Hyeju(H) : Hi B! My friends are going to visit from China next month. Where is a good place to go with them?
B : Well, that depends on what you want to do?
H : We could go shopping to Myeongdong. We made plans to go to clubs around Hongik University at night, but I don't know what we should do during daytime!
B : It seems like foreign friends know better these days because they get information via the internet.
H : Still, I'd like to introduce them to a great place since they are visiting my homeground!
B : Then, you should go to places that are most Korean.
H :Insadong?
B :Hahahah, Insadong is not bad but you won't be able to find authentic Korean made products there. Besides the Korean food there is so expensive. I've heard that the middle-low price cosmetics are great hits among foreigners and you said you are going to Myeongdong, right? When I say places that are most Korea, I am talking about places you can only find in Korea.
H : So, where can I find these place?
B : Do you know how many palaces are in Seoul?
H : I've been to the Gyeongbokgung Palace!
B : So, how many are there?
H : Ah, I've been to Changdeokgung as well! When I was very young...
B : There are only five palaces in Seoul. That is why it's called the Five Palaces: the Gyeongbokgung Palace right in front of the Gwanghwanum Square, the Changdeokgung Palace and the Changgyeonggung Palace that are close by the Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Gyeonghuigung Palace beside Seoul Museum of History, and the Deoksugung Palace in front of Seoul City Hall.
H : Wow, the five palaces! You sound like you know a thing a two about these. You really are a travel writer, aren't you?
B : I'm a busy man.
H : Wait a second! I'll treat you to a great meal!! I really got a lot of help from these friends and I want to do something for them, although I don't have much money. (Hahahah) So, what is the best place among these five palaces?
B : They are all great!
H : Oh, come on!
B : Then, what about Gyeonghuigung?
H :Gyeonghuigung? Why, why? Is it the best place? But, isn't Gyoengbokgung the largest and the most famous palace?
B : Hmmm, this is really a secret, but among the five palaces...
H : ??
B :Gyeonghuigung is the only place that is free of admission charge.
H : Aha, that is good information! But, seriously!! Why do I feel annoyed?
B : You said you don't have money.
H : But still!! I can afford to pay the admission price! Come on, I need your advice! (angrily)
B :Hahahah!
H : You've been to many places whenever your foreign friends visit Korea. Blow it out, right now.
B : Wow, you sound like you're giving me a breathalyzer test. Honestly, they are all great places to visit. The important thing is whether your friends are interested in Korean palaces. Besides, if they are coming from China, they might prefer Everland to old palaces.
H :Hahahah, come think of it, you are right. When I visited Beijing, I was busy going to night markets. And when I finally went to the Great Wall of China, it was really exhausting. My friends, who are used to going to the Forbidden City, might be disappointed with the Gyeongbokgung Palace. But it is such a great place! The Bukhansan Mountain to its back is so wonderful! Beijing doesn't has anything like the Bukhansan Mountain; there is nothing but a big palace.
B : I know, that is why telling stories about the place is important. Even if you are visiting an unknown place, that visit can become a travel your friends will never forget depending on how you tell them about the place. On the other hand, no matter how famous a place may be, you can end up just having a picture or two, and nothing more.
H : I would love to explain about the places we will visit. I am not a professional touring guide, but I am studying and preparing in my own ways so that I can introduce Korea to my Chinese friends. But learning history is so hard...
B : I'm not good with history, myself. What really counts is having your style, Hyeju.
H : My style?
B : You like coffee, don't you?
H : Absolutely.
B : Do your friends love coffee as much as you do?
H : Yeah, they enjoy coffee. I think my Chinese friends like to chat at coffee shops more than they like drinking coffee. Chatting is the lingua franca!
B : OK. Then, why don't you go to a place where you all can enjoy coffee? Like the Deoksugung Palace.
H : The Deoksugung Palace?
B : Yup. Have fun.
H : Awe, come on! You gotta tell me why.
B : (giggles) There is a Western style building called Jeonggwanheon in the Deoksugung Palace, and it is where Emperor Gojong used to enjoy coffee. You could say that it was the first coffee place in Korea. They say Emperor Gojong was the first Korean person to taste coffee.
H : Really? That's interesting! But why is that not written in history books.
B : Do you remember AgwanPacheon?
H :AgwanPacheon! The Korea royal refuge at the Russian legation? So, that was about Emperor Gojong?
B : Wow, you have a good memory? You are right. Apparently, Emperor Gojong missed the taste of coffee he had at the Russian legation for the first time, and so, enjoyed drinking coffee at the Jeonggwanheon after he returned to the palace. The building is quite exotic because it combines Western style interior with Korean traditional patterns. Chinese friends who are Asians just like us might find this place interesting. In addition to the Jeonggwanheon, the Soekjojean which is used as the Deoksugung Art Museum is a Colonial style Western building. Among the five palaces, it is the one that is most different from traditional Joseon palaces. I am sure Asians will find it more exotic than Europeans do.
H :Ohhh, that's really interesting. An old palace that has a coffee place, the first one for South Korea. I've decided. The Deokdugung Palace, it will be.
B : (Laugh) Good, it will be helpful if you prepare yourself a bit. The palace is the smallest one, so two hours will be enough to tour the place. Recently, I've seen a lot of foreigners visit the palace, but they take only about 20 minutes. I wonder what they see in such a short amount of time.
H :Hahahah... It's the same when we are traveling other countries. When we are on a package tour, we only take an hour to tour the Forbidden City. By the way, when are we going to the Deoksugung Palace?