Deoksugung Palace is a palace where you can feel the history of Joseon and the Korean Empire together. When all the palaces of Hanyang were burned down by the Japanese Invasion of Joseon in 1592, (the 25th year of King Seonjo's reign), the residence of Wolsan Daegun, the older brother of the 9th King Seongjong of Joseon, and some private houses were used as s temporary palace and called Jeongneung-dong Haenggung. After King Gwanghaegun ascended to the throne, it was named Gyeongungung Palace in 1611 (the 3rd year of King Gwanghaegun's reign). However, after King Injo ascended to the throne in 1623, he returned the rest of the buildings to their original owners, leaving only Seogeodang Hall and Jeukjodang Hall.

Then, in 1896, King Gojong, who was staying at the Russian legation, had Gyeongung Palace renovated and returned to Gyeongung Palace in February 1897. In October of the same year, when the Korean Empire was proclaimed and King Gojong ascended the throne in Hwangudan Altar, Gyeongungung Palace was officially established as the imperial palace of the Korean Empire. At its peak Gyeongungung Palace was three times larger than the current area. Especially with the combination of traditional buildings of Joseon (Seogeodang Hall, Jeukjodang Hall, and Junghwajeon Hall) and the western style buildings of the Korean Empire (Jeonggwanheon Hall, Seokjojeon Hall) it had the appearance of a modern palace.

However, the Great Fire of Gyeongungung Palace in 1904 destroyed most of the buildings and they were rebuilt and when King Gojong was deposed as emperor by the Japanese in 1907, Gyeongungung Palace renamed Deoksugung Palace. After Emperor Gojong passed away, the Japanese turned the palace into a park drastically reducing the palace area but restoration work has been underway since the 1980s, giving it its current appearance.