It is one of the " Five Grand Palaces " built by the kings of the Joseon dynasty โ Changdeokgung was the most favored palace of many Joseon kings and retained many elements dating from the Three Kingdoms of Korea period that were not incorporated in the more contemporary Gyeongbokgung.
One such element is the fact that the buildings of Changdeokgung blend with the natural topography of the site instead of imposing themselves upon it. Changdeokgung was the second palace after Gyeongbokgung which had been established in as a primary palace.
In the midst of strife for the throne between princes and vassals, authority of Gyeongbokgung was deteriorated. King Jeongjong enthroned by Prince Jeong-an Yi Bang-won , who later became King Taejong, moved the capital to Gaegyeong , the capital of Goryeo , again in on the pretext of its superior geographical features, but in fact, to avert a power struggle.
Taejong was reluctant to build Gyeongbokgung Palace, which had been built by his political opponent Jeong Do-jeon , as well as being the place where he had killed his half-brothers for the throne, and therefore built new palace named Changdeokgung. Construction of Changdeokgung began in , and was completed in King Seonjo expanded the palace grounds by about , square meters, including Huwon see below.
The palace was burnt to the ground during the Japanese invasion in by crowd and reconstructed in by King Seonjo and King Gwanghaegun. The palace burned down again in because of King Injo a political Revolt against Gwanghaegun. The palace was also attacked by the Manchu Qing but throughout its history of reconstruction and repair has remained faithful to its original design.
