Deoksugung, Seoul

Deoksugung was originally the home of the king's brother. But Deoksugung came to be used as a temporary palace after all other palaces had been burnt down during the 1592 Japanese invasion.

The Royal Museum was built between 1900 and 1909 as a modern palace. Servant quarters in the basement then a level of reception rooms and the Emperor's rooms on the third floor. After independence from the Japanese in 1945, Korea was split into north and south - similar to the division of post war Germany. (except that until the North Korean invasion it was easier to travel between North and South Korea.). During this time, the Royal Museum building (Seokjojeun) was used as the meeting place of the US-USSR Joint Commission.

Deoksugung is also home to the remains of the world's oldest and largest water clock. It was constructed to strike a bell at a certain hour. Next to the water clock is a large Buddhist bell from the Heungcheonsa temple, and an early rocket launcher.