Seogeodang Residence

Deoksugung Palace
Seoul, Korea (Palace Map)

Seogeodang dates from the early 1600's but was rebuilt in 1904 after the fire. The structure is seen here in side view. It is easy to recognize, as it is the only two-story building in Deoksugung. Its unpainted exterior gives some idea of how private residences appeared at the time. Seogeodang is best known as the scene of the Injo Restoration (1623), a coup d'etat in which a disaffected group of aristocrats deposed King Gwanghaegun in favor of Injo, whose pro-Ming and anti-Manchu diplomacy provoked two Manchu invasions of Korea, in 1627 and again in 1637.