Changdeokgung Palace Complex

World Heritage Research

Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Changdeokgung Palace Complex from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.

• Exploring the Modern Production Process of Traditional Patterns Based on Digital Design - Focusing on the Patterns of Changdeokgung Nakseonjae -

  Digital design technology can standardize and adapt the aesthetic value of traditional cultural heritage, such as the patterns of Changdeokgung Palace Complex's Nakseonjae, to modern lifestyle product specifications without compromising its core identity. This study confirms that a design adaptation process based on morphological analysis allows for flexible expansion into diverse product lines while preserving traditional aesthetics. Additionally, it demonstrates how combining digital precision with traditional craftsmanship in prototype production merges the intangible qualities of digital data with the tangible nature of handcrafted materials. The research contributes to the potential transformation of preservation-focused heritage data into high-value commercial products, supporting the development of a Korean cultural ecosystem with strong identity and economic viability.

  Gio, K. S. (2026). Exploring the Modern Production Process of Traditional Patterns Based on Digital Design - Focusing on the Patterns of Changdeokgung Nakseonjae -. Journal of Cultural Product & Design, 84(0), 27–36. https://doi.org/10.18555/kicpd.2026.84.003

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• The Cultural Biography of Wood and Late Joseon Architectural Technology: Focusing on the Changdeokgung Yeonggeon Dogam Uigwe (1834)

  A study reveals that the reconstruction of Daejojeon Hall in Changdeokgung Palace (1834) was significantly shaped by the physical constraints of timber, demonstrating how natural materials actively influenced architectural design and state logistics. The research shows that the inability to source ideal timber forced the expansion of a nationwide logistical network, ultimately reducing the hall's scale from 45 to 36 bays. This 'cultural biography' of wood highlights its role as an active agent in reshaping royal space, challenging idealized historical records and emphasizing the interplay between material resistance and architectural innovation.

  Oh, Y. (2026). The Cultural Biography of Wood and Late Joseon Architectural Technology: Focusing on the Changdeokgung Yeonggeon Dogam Uigwe (1834). The Korean Journal of History of Science, 48(1), 191–220. https://doi.org/10.36092/kjhs.2026.48.1.191

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• Carbon Storage Assessment of Changdeokgung Palace Forest Based on Biomass Allometric Equations†

  Changdeokgung Palace Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Ecosystem Conservation Area, stores approximately 7,905.26 tons of carbon across its canopy and sub-canopy layers. This finding underscores the significant ecological value of urban palace forests, particularly those dominated by large-diameter and ancient trees like Zelkova serrata (Thunb.) Makino, which contributed the most to carbon storage despite being fewer in number. The study, conducted from 2020 to 2023 across 759 sample plots, used biomass allometric equations to quantify carbon storage in 7,988 trees, providing a baseline for assessing the functional value of historical landscapes. Dominant species varied by terrain, with xeric oaks thriving on ridges and slopes, while Quercus aliena Blume and others prevailed in valley areas. The research highlights the importance of preserving such forests not only for their cultural heritage but also for their critical role in urban carbon sequestration.

  Youn-Choul, K., Bong-Ho, H., & Seok-Cheol, P. (2026). Carbon Storage Assessment of Changdeokgung Palace Forest Based on Biomass Allometric Equations†. Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture, 54(3), 64–77. https://doi.org/10.9715/kila.2026.54.3.064

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• Reconstructing memory through adaptive heritage: a comparative analysis of Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung in UNESCO discourse

  A comparative analysis of Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung Palaces reveals that Gyeongbokgung, despite its exclusion from UNESCO World Heritage recognition due to reconstruction, embodies adaptive heritage principles by reflecting Korea’s postcolonial transformations and evolving national identity. The study challenges conventional heritage frameworks rooted in the Authorized Heritage Discourse (AHD), emphasizing symbolic reappropriation and historical rupture. Using a case analysis and text mining of over 90,000 news articles, the research highlights Gyeongbokgung’s cultural and interpretive potential as adaptive heritage, advocating for more inclusive and context-sensitive approaches to World Heritage evaluation in East Asia.

  Youn, H. C., & Bae, J. (2025). Reconstructing memory through adaptive heritage: a comparative analysis of Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung in UNESCO discourse. Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2025.2542303

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• Meaning of the Construction of Gyeongbokgung Palace Garden Outside Sinmu-Gate – The Experience of Changdeokgung Palace and Heungseon Daewongun's Architectural Intention –

  A new analysis reveals that the garden construction outside Sinmu-Gate at Gyeongbokgung Palace, led by Heungseon Daewongun during its 18th-century reconstruction, was a deliberate architectural and political strategy to re-establish Joseon-era governance structures. The study demonstrates that this design choice, featuring administrative buildings like Yungmunjeong and Yungmujeong, mirrored the spatial organization of early Joseon palaces, reinforcing Confucian political ideals by physically separating civil and military institutions while maintaining symbolic continuity with traditional palace layouts. By integrating past examination sites such as Gyeongmudae into the garden's layout, the reconstruction aimed to revive historical governance models, blending functional utility with ideological symbolism.

  Lee, K. M. (2025). Meaning of the Construction of Gyeongbokgung Palace Garden Outside Sinmu-Gate – The Experience of Changdeokgung Palace and Heungseon Daewongun’s Architectural Intention –. The Journal of Seoul Studies, 100, 1–38. https://doi.org/10.17647/jss.2025.08.100.01

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• Newly introduction of indoor passages in Changdeokgung Palace in the early twentieth century: a typological analysis and its architectural implications

  A groundbreaking transformation occurred at Changdeokgung Palace between 1907 and 1920, marking the first introduction of fully enclosed indoor passages in traditional Korean palace architecture. This study reveals two distinct passage types—Corridors, which connected separate buildings and were later removed during restorations, and Hallways, which organized interior space within single buildings and became universally standardized post-independence. The findings challenge prior assumptions about colonial imposition, demonstrating instead a complex hybridity where traditional and modern spatial concepts coexisted. By analyzing historical drawings, newspapers, and restoration documents, the research refines architectural typology frameworks and extends postcolonial hybridity theory to palace architecture, offering critical insights for heritage preservation that recognize multiple legitimate historical layers.

  Kee, S. (2025). Newly introduction of indoor passages in Changdeokgung Palace in the early twentieth century: a typological analysis and its architectural implications. Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering, 1–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2025.2606531

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• Korean-Western Blended Interior Style and Its Meaning in the Korean Royal Palaces During the Japanese Colonial Period - Focused on the Daejojeon and Huijeongdang in Changdeokgung Palace -

  During Japan's colonial rule over Korea, the Changdeokgung Palace Complex's Daejojeon and Huijeongdang showcased a unique fusion of Korean and Western interior design elements. This blend, characterized by traditional Korean aesthetics in upper sections and Western influences—particularly French—below, reflected both colonial political pressures and evolving domestic sensibilities toward Western decoration. The study reveals that this eclecticism was not merely a product of modernity but also a response to Japan's own cultural synthesis with the West, offering insights into Korea's interior design industry during this period.

  Lee, J.-Y. (2024). Korean-Western Blended Interior Style and Its Meaning in the Korean Royal Palaces During the Japanese Colonial Period - Focused on the Daejojeon and Huijeongdang in Changdeokgung Palace -. Journal of the Korean Institute of Interior Design, 33(6), 31–44. https://doi.org/10.14774/jkiid.2024.33.6.031

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