View source for Unhyeongung

{{Short description|Palace in Seoul, South Korea}}
{{Infobox building
| name             = Unhyeongung
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| image            = Iro-dang, Unhyeongung - Seoul, Korea.JPG
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| address          = 114-10 Unni-dong, [[Jongno District]]
| location_city    = [[Seoul]]
| location_country = South Korea
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| designations     = {{Infobox designation list
|embed=yes
|designation1=Historic Sites of South Korea
|designation1_offname=Unhyeongung Palace, Seoul
|designation1_number=257
|designation1_date=1977-11-22
}}
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| public_transit   = Subway Line 3, Anguk Station, Exit 4
| website          = {{URL|unhyeongung.or.kr/en}} (in English)
| embedded         = {{Infobox Korean name
| hangul  = 운현궁
| hanja   = 雲峴宮
| rr      = Unhyeongung
| mr      = Unhyŏn'gung
|child = yes
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}}

'''Unhyeongung''' ({{Korean|운현궁}}), also known as '''Unhyeongung Royal Residence''', is a former [[Korea]]n royal residence located at 114-10 Unni-dong, [[Jongno-gu]], [[Seoul]]. It was formerly the residence of the [[Heungseon Daewongun]], who served as a [[prince regent]] of [[Joseon]] Korea in the 19th century and fathered [[Gojong of Korea|Emperor Gojong]]. Gojong himself lived in Unhyeongung until age 12, when he assumed the throne.<ref name="visitkorea-ofcl">{{cite web|url=http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264223|title=Imagine Your Korea : Official site|website=[[VisitKorea.or.kr]]|access-date=2010-08-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Sun-min|title=This is no ordinary Chuseok|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2926176|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629144628/http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2926176|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 29, 2013|access-date=9 April 2013|newspaper=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]]|date=18 September 2010}}</ref> It is currently a museum and is open to the public free of charge.

==History==
[[File:Korea-Seoul-Unhyeongung 1296-06.JPG|thumb]]
[[File:Korea-Seoul-Unhyeongung 1292-06.JPG|thumb]]
The site dates from the 14th century. Early buildings were damaged or destroyed during the 16th-century [[Imjin War|Japanese invasions of Korea]], but some of the early construction remains. Under the direction of Queen Mother Jo, Unhyeongung was converted into a grander complex with four gates.

Although the residential complex was seized from the descendants of [[Heungseon Daewongun]] under [[Korea under Japanese rule|Japanese colonial rule]], it was returned to them in 1948. In 1993, the descendants sold it to the Seoul government. Unhyeongung subsequently underwent three years of renovations to restore it to its earlier appearance.<ref name="virtualtourist">{{cite web|url=http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/South_Korea/Soul_tukpyolsi/Seoul-1058426/Things_To_Do-Seoul-Unhyeongung_Palace-BR-1.html|title=Unhyeongung Palace|publisher=Virtualtourist.com|access-date=2010-08-22}}</ref>

Today's complex is smaller than its previous extent, as [[Duksung Women's University]] now occupies part of its grounds, as do other smaller businesses, including Unhyeon Kindergarten and Byeolhadang hanok guesthouse.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://yoosfamily.com/eng/sub08/a1.html |title=Prologue |publisher=Yoo's Family |access-date=2016-11-02 |archive-date=2011-07-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718142603/http://yoosfamily.com/eng/sub08/a1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> 

==Structures==
Some of the interiors have been refurnished and contain mannequins dressed in typical clothing styles for various stations of life in [[Korean history]]. The complex also contains a small museum. The residence is open to the public, free of charge.

===Norakdang Hall===
Norakdang is the largest building within the complex and was the site of the wedding of [[Gojong of Korea|King Gojong]] and [[Empress Myeongseong]]. Norakdang also was as one of the two residential buildings for women.

The most notable structure inside Norakdang is the kitchen, which was most likely used for food preparation when hosting important events. The hall held many important events such as birthday parties and related ceremonies.

A reenactment of a traditional wedding ceremony continues to be held at Norakdang.<ref name="visitkorea-ofcl"/>
[[File:Korea-Seoul-Unhyeongung 1291-06.JPG|thumb|upright=.7|Sujiksa at Unhyeongung]]

===Noandang Hall===
Noandang was where the Heungseon Daewongun received his guests. It also served as the leisure quarters for the men, though the hall was not just a place of leisure and entertainment. The Heungseon Daewongun, as the father of a young Emperor, carried out all his business from Noandang.<ref name="visitkorea-ofcl"/>

===Irodang Hall===
Irodang is one of two woman's residences at Unhyeongung.

===Sujiksa===

Sujiksa is a small row of rooms to the right of the entrance. These rooms provided housing for the servants and guards.<ref name="visitkorea-ofcl"/>

==Royal wedding ceremony==
[[File:Korea-Seoul-Royal wedding ceremony 1366-06a.jpg|thumb|Royal wedding ceremony reenactment of King Gojong and Empress Myeongseong, along with members of the royal court]]
Unhyeongung was the site of the last royal wedding ceremony, between King Gojong and Empress Myeongseong, on March 21, 1866. A reenactment of this ceremony is held at Unhyeongung in the spring and fall of every year.<ref name="visitkorea">{{cite web|url=http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_2_1.jsp?cid=293157|title=Imagine Your Korea : Official site|website=[[VisitKorea.or.kr]]-event|access-date=2010-08-22|archive-date=2009-07-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707212100/http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_2_1.jsp?cid=293157|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Joe|first=Yonghee|title=Holiday fun for the foreigner|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2473315|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629140710/http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2473315|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 29, 2013|access-date=9 April 2013|newspaper=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]]|date=23 September 2004}}</ref>

This ceremony is an exact reenactment, based on thorough historical research and consultation by the palace's panel of experts, of the regal and grandeur style of the imperial family's royal wedding ceremony. The reenactment displays the traditional royal costumes and lifestyles of the Joseon dynasty.<ref>{{cite news|title=Court Wedding Reenacted at Unhyeon Palace|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2004/04/19/2004041961015.html|access-date=9 April 2013|newspaper=[[The Chosun Ilbo]]|date=29 April 2004}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center">
File:Korea-Seoul-Unhyeongung 1299-06.JPG|
File:Interior 1, Unhyeongung - Seoul, Korea.JPG|
File:Korea-Seoul-Royal wedding ceremony 1361-06.JPG|Royal wedding ceremony reenactment
File:Korea-Seoul-Royal wedding ceremony 1333-06.JPG|Royal wedding ceremony reenactment
File:Korea-Seoul-Royal wedding ceremony 1348-06.JPG|Royal wedding ceremony reenactment
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Gyeongbokgung]]
* [[Culture of Korea]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book | last = Hoon | first = Shin Young | title = The Royal Palaces of Korea: Six Centuries of Dynastic Grandeur | location = Singapore | publisher = Stallion Press | year = 2008 | type = Hardback | isbn = 978-981-08-0806-8}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Unhyeongung}}
* {{Official site|http://www.unhyeongung.or.kr/en}}
{{Palaces of Joseon}}{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|37.5761219|126.9872332|scale:75000_region:KR_type:landmark|display=title}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Jongno District]]
[[Category:Royal residences in South Korea]]
[[Category:Palaces in Seoul]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Seoul]]
[[Category:Historic buildings and structures in Seoul]]
[[Category:Historic Sites of South Korea]]
[[Category:Palaces of Joseon]]