If I had to choose only one palace in Seoul, I would unhesitatingly choose Changdeokgung. Not because it's the largest or oldest—there are palaces both bigger and older. But Changdeokgung possesses something elusive, a special harmony that makes you return again and again. UNESCO included it on the World Heritage List for good reason, noting an "outstanding example of Far Eastern palace architecture and garden design."

Palace History: The Secondary Residence That Became Primary

Changdeokgung—"Palace of Prospering Virtue"—was built in 1405 as a secondary royal residence. The main palace then w...