He rapidly expanded it by acquiring land from nearby properties and constructing new buildings in both Korean and Western styles.

After Gojong's death, the colonial government moved quickly to sell off and dismantle the palace's property.

In 1938, a West Wing was constructed for Seokjojeon, and together the two buildings became the Yi Royal Family Art Museum [ko].

As part of this plan, a number of buildings and structures have been recreated or moved back to their original pre-colonial spots based on historical research.

The site the palace now occupies once contained the tomb of Queen Sindeok, second wife of the Joseon founding king Taejo (r. 1392–1398).

Grand Prince Wolsan, the elder brother of King Seongjong, constructed his residence in the area.

[3][4] Upon his return to Seoul in 1593, he stayed in the area, which was dubbed the Jeongneung-dong Haenggung (정릉동 행궁; 貞陵洞行宮).

[7] For much of the later Joseon period, Gyeongungung was considered to have lesser facilities, and thus went largely unused by the Korean royal family.

[9] An article in the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture argues it was otherwise disregarded to the extent of not appearing on a number of late Joseon maps.

[2] In 1893, the Korean monarch Gojong held a ceremony at Gyeongungung for the 300th anniversary of Seonjo returning to Seoul.

Historian An Chang-mo (안창모) argues that the palace held symbolism to Gojong as a place where the monarch stayed during a foreign invasion crisis.

[3] Rather than return to Gyeongbokgung, where Min had been assassinated, Gojong chose to make Gyeongungung his residence for its proximity to the legations, which he believed could help protect him from Japan.

[13] They then held a state funeral for Min, whom was posthumously dubbed Empress Myeongseong, wherein her remains were transferred from Gyeongbokgung to Gyeongungung.

[16] After crowning himself emperor at a ceremony at the nearby Hwangudan, on October 13, 1897, he officially proclaimed the Korean Empire.

[24] The fire destroyed most of the buildings,[2] including Jungmyeongjeon, Seogeodang, and Jeokjodang, which had dated to the time of Seonjo.

[32][2] Afterwards, Sunjong used Changdeokgung as his primary palace, possibly at the behest of the Japanese, who wished to isolate him from Gojong.

[51] In March 1946, the United States Army Military Government in Korea seized Seokjojeon and designated it as the offices of the Soviet-American Joint Commission [ko].

[60] Daehanmun [ko] (대한문; 大漢門; Taehanmun) is the current main gate of the palace and located on the east side of the complex.

[64] Gwangmyeongmun (광명문; 光明門; Kwangmyŏngmun) is the main gate to the south of the king's sleeping quarters Hamnyeongjeon.

It was moved in 1938, upon the expansion of Seokjojeon and the establishment of the Yi Royal Family Art Museum [ko].

[66] It was used as an exhibition hall for national treasures such as the water clock Borugak Jagyeongnu and Heungcheonsa bronze bell [ko].

[72] Jeonggwanheon [ko] (정관헌; 靜觀軒; Chŏnggwanhŏn) is an American-style brick building with a wooden porch.

former ruler's house[80]) is a building that dated to Seonjo's time (before it was destroyed in the 1904 fire and rebuilt that same year).

In 1998, the West Wing became part of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Deoksugung branch.

The building Yangijae [ko] (양이재; 養怡齋) still exists, although Hamhuidang (함희당; 咸喜堂; Hamhŭidang) was demolished.

[105] In 1912, the Government-General of Chōsen asked that the royal family lease these buildings to the Seoul Anglican Cathedral.

[106] Seonwonjeon (선원전; 璿源殿; Sŏnwŏnjŏn) was an ancestral worship hall that was located in what is now outside and north of the palace.

[108] The headquarters for the Board of Marshals was located in two buildings to the right of Inhwamun (the original main gate in the south).

The bridge to the legation had a single arch; traces of its structure still remain on the walls of Deoksugung and on a Seoul City Hall annex building.

[116] Guseongheon (구성헌; 九成軒; Kusŏnghŏn) was a two-story Western-style building north of Seokjojeon, to the northwest of Junmyeongdang.