Deoksugung Palace’s Stone Hall at Night
🗓️ 2026.09.09 ~ 2026.10.18
Seokjojeon, whose name translates literally to “Stone Hall,” is the neoclassical centerpiece of Deoksugung Palace. The Korean Empire’s last years unfolded within its walls, and its stately Western facade has stood in striking contrast to the palace’s traditional pavilions for over a century. [Seokjojeon Hall by Night at Deoksugung Palace] opens this historically charged building to visitors after sunset—guiding them through the halls, the flavors, and the stories of the imperial family that once called it home.
Unlike an ordinary daytime visit, the program is structured around four connected experiences:
- Deoksugung, Seokjojeon Night Tour — Exhibition viewing and commentary at the Seokjojeon Great Empire History Museum, led by a professional guide.
- Terrace Cafe Experience — Tasting Emperor Gojong’s Gabae-cha (coffee) and desserts on the 2nd-floor terrace of Seokjojeon, with classical music in the background. Three types of refreshments are provided, and each visitor chooses one of four beverages.
- Reception Room Musical — Watching a creative musical that offers a glimpse into the period of the Korean Empire.
- Insaeng-gung-cut — Taking commemorative photos at a self-photo box with the night view of Seokjojeon as the backdrop, complete with Enlightenment-era props.
The program began as a pilot project in 2021. Its reception exceeded expectations, leading to an official launch in 2022, and it has been operated semi-annually since 2023. It is a complex cultural experience that allows visitors to travel back in time to the Seokjojeon Hall of Deoksugung Palace, where the stories of the Korean Empire’s imperial family are carried by the palace staff—and to carry those memories home through ‘Insaeng-gung-cut’ photos and souvenirs using Enlightenment-era props.
What stays with visitors is the cumulative effect of the evening. Under the guidance of palace staff, the night moves from the Seokjojeon Great Empire History Museum to the terrace, where Emperor Gojong’s coffee and desserts are served to the sound of classical music; then to the reception room for a musical performance; and finally to a self-photo box, where the illuminated facade of Seokjojeon becomes the backdrop for a commemorative photograph—a fitting end to a night inside one of Seoul’s most resonant historical spaces.
- 📍 Address: 99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul (Jeong-dong)
- 🛏️ Accommodations near the event
- 💰 Fee: Paid (35,000 won per person)
- 📞 Inquiry: 1522-2295
- ⭐️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k.heritage.agency/
- 🖥️ Website: https://www.kh.or.kr/short/M3K4
Seokjojeon Hall is a two-story stone building in Deoksugung Palace, built in a Western neoclassical style. Its name translates to “Stone Hall,” a reference to the pale granite facade that sets it apart from the traditional Korean pavilions and gates elsewhere in the palace grounds. The symmetrical composition, columns, and formal detailing signal its intended purpose: to house a royal court that wanted to present itself as a modern, internationally recognized state.
Construction began in 1900, during the Korean Empire. Emperor Gojong had declared the empire in 1897 and was pursuing reforms meant to secure Korea’s standing as a sovereign state. The building was designed by the British architect John Reginald Harding and was completed in 1910, originally intended as a royal residence and reception hall where foreign diplomats could be entertained. Japan’s annexation of Korea that year changed that use. Under Japanese rule, the building was put to administrative and museum purposes, and after liberation it served for decades as part of the National Museum.
The building is now the Daehan Empire History Museum. Its restored interior includes the throne room, the emperor’s study, and the reception rooms, fitted with period furniture, chandeliers, and patterned wallpaper. The collection covers the final years of the Korean Empire, from the court’s daily life to its diplomatic activities. The museum presents this period through the objects and rooms themselves.
At night, the exterior is illuminated, and the palace grounds host concerts, musicals, and a coffee service in the courtyard. The coffee program is popular because it allows visitors to sit in a setting once reserved for official functions. Seokjojeon Hall remains one of the clearest surviving examples of Korea’s attempt to meet that era’s challenges through architecture and diplomacy.
