"Crown Prince's Reading Hall Revealed"… Changdeokgung Palace's Heeuru Pavilion Opens to Public for First Time
What view did a crown prince of the Joseon Dynasty gaze upon to soothe his weary mind after exhausting reading sessions with his tutors? Heeuru (喜雨樓), the eastern pavilion of Seongjeonggak at Changdeokgung Palace, which served as a learning space and refuge for Crown Prince Hyomyeong, now unveils itself for the first time to welcome visitors.
The National Heritage Service's Palace and Royal Tomb Heritage Office announced on the 10th that it will hold "Seongjeonggak, A Day in the Life of the Crown Prince - A Step Every Day, The Path to Becoming King" from September 22 to November 8 at Seongjeonggak and Gwanmulheon areas in Changdeokgung Palace, Jongno-gu, Seoul, together with the National Heritage Promotion Agency.
Crown Prince Hyomyeong's Space for Reflection: From Outside View to Inside the Pavilion
The highlight of this event is undoubtedly the first-ever opening of Heeuru, which had been strictly off-limits until now. Heeuru is a pavilion named after the joy of rain following a drought, and it was a space where Crown Prince Hyomyeong read books and engaged in contemplation. Also known by the plaque "Bochunjung (報春亭)," meaning "announcing spring," this site could previously only be viewed from the outside.
During the event period, visitors can enter Heeuru directly and enjoy a unique experience viewing the scenery of Changdeokgung Palace through the eyes of a Joseon crown prince. Heeuru viewing is conducted on-site Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It operates 24 sessions daily, with 15 minutes per session and a maximum of 8 participants per session.
From VR Archery to Royal Lecture Reenactments… Rich Connected Experiences
Connected programs for children and families are abundant. Every Sunday, role-immersion experience "Becoming Crown Prince Hyomyeong's Student" unfolds, targeting first to third-grade elementary students. This program accepts first-come-first-served reservations of 10 people per session through Ticketlink.
At Gwanmulheon, the crown prince's actual educational space, "The Crown Prince's Learning" offers experiences in archery, writing, and arithmetic using virtual reality (VR) technology. In addition, an exhibition titled "A Day in the Life of the Crown Prince" highlighting the crown prince's daily life, and "The Crown Prince's Royal Lecture," a reenactment of scholarly exchanges between Crown Prince Hyomyeong and his tutors, will be presented to visitors every Saturday (1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m.).
As the previously closed palace doors open wider, the daily life of crown princes preserved in history is expected to draw closer to contemporary visitors' lives.