With the arrival of spring, Changdeokgung Palace has opened its apartments to the public in a ceremony called Chang-ho. Initiated by the National Heritage Administration and Palace/Royal Tombs Headquarters, the event consisted of opening the previously closed windows and doors of palace apartments to extend the lifespan of buildings made of wood. The event is set to be hosted from March 18-23. 

During this, apartments Hee-jung dang, Nak-sun jae, Sung-jeong gak, and the Gweol-ne-gak-sa (Cabinet Office) were opened. The opening of various windows and doors within these apartments allowed viewers to observe apartments that were previously closed to the public. Sung-jeong gak, for example, was the living quarters of the Crown Prince that opened its doors for the first time. 

This year’s Chang-ho ceremony seems to be one of the ways of promoting tourism around Korean historical monuments. The Palace/Royal Tombs Headquarters also released a series of phone wallpapers consisting of photos of Korea’s historical palaces, Jongmyo Shrine, Sajikdan Altar, Chilgung Shrine, Sungre-mun, and royal tombs in collaboration with the Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANC). 

The initiative offers visitors a unique opportunity to look around the Changdeokgung Palace.