Deoksugung started as a royal residence, became a stand-in palace after the 1592 Japanese invasions burned the others down, and then took center stage in 1897 when Emperor Gojong proclaimed the Korean Empire here. That timing explains everything unusual about it: this was the palace of Korea's turbulent leap into the modern era, so the Ionic stone columns of Seokjojeon rise just steps away from the traditional throne hall Junghwajeon. Nowhere else in Seoul can you catch a tiled hanok roof and a European neoclassical facade in the same photo frame.
Deoksugung's superpower is its hours. While other palaces make you wait for special night-opening events, this one is open until 9 PM every day, all year (last entry 8 PM). That means an evening stroll past the illuminated Seokjojeon is just... a normal Tuesday plan, which is exactly why locals treat it as an after-work date course. Admission is ₩1,000 for adults — about half a cup of coffee — and free if you wear a full hanbok. It closes on Mondays, so plan around that; note it's a different rest day from Gyeongbokgung, which closes Tuesdays.
The sights line up nicely. The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony runs in front of Daehanmun gate at 11 AM and 2 PM daily, takes about half an hour, and costs nothing — the full costumed procession is worth timing your arrival for (it pauses on Mondays and in snow, rain, or extreme heat and cold). Inside Seokjojeon, the Daehan Empire History Museum is guided-tour-only with mandatory online reservation — no walk-ins — and slots sell out early, so book as soon as your dates are fixed. The palace grounds also house a branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (separate ticket), turning the visit into an easy palace-plus-gallery half day.
Getting there is as simple as Seoul gets: come out of City Hall Station (Lines 1 and 2) and Daehanmun gate is right in front of you, with Gwanghwamun and Seoul Plaza both within walking distance. When you're done inside, walk the stonewall path (Deoksugung Doldam-gil) hugging the palace wall toward Jeong-dong — in autumn its ginkgo trees make it one of the prettiest short walks in the city. The palace buildings themselves take one to two hours, but with the stonewall walk and the art museum you'll easily fill half a day. There's no on-site parking, so take the subway.