Changgyeonggung

Sitting adjacent to the Changdeokgung compound is Changgyeonggung palace, where most of the supposed historical Korean palace intrigue upon which historical dramas are often based supposedly took place.

Some buildings in the palace compound.

Haminjeong, shown below, was the hall used by the king to receive officials and hold banquets.

Sungmundang Hall was where the king threw banquets and the current structure was rebuilt in 1830 after a fire.

A view of the throne room of the palace.  Even though the palace was originally built as living quarters for dowager queens, the main hall still stands elevated on stone with a walkway leading up resembling those seen in Gyeongbokgung.  As it was rebuilt in 1616, it is the oldest throne room among the Seoul palaces.

Below, looking eastward from the main hall, we can see the stone walkway leading up to the hall.  The main gate at the east is called Honghwamun.

Heading back northwards, we see a pagoda and another building inside the compound.

A view of the compound from up the hill.  On the right is a rather strange monument, known as a Taesil which is a shrine of sorts, where children's umbilical cords and placentas were stored...

As you continue heading north into the park, you'll see a small lake where royals used to stroll around enjoying the serenity and peacefulness of the gardens.

Below is a stone pagoda that was made in China in 1470 and brought here by an antiques trader.

And one last view of some of the palace buildings from the Changdeokgung side before exiting and heading off to Jongmyo.