Beneath the curved eaves and ornate wooden beams of Deoksu Palace, where Korea’s last monarchs once navigated the closing days of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty, a quieter form of vigilance has taken root. The historic site in central Seoul, long vulnerable to unauthorized visitors and accidental damage, has quietly adopted modern sensor technology to safeguard its centuries-old timber structures. The Deoksu Palace Management Office, a division of the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center under the Korea Heritage Service, announced the completion, Monday, of an advanced intrusion detection system across the palace grounds’ main halls. The upgrade installs passive infrared motion sensors and automated warning broadcasting units inside major historic pavilions, including Junghwajeon, Hamnyeongjeon and Seogeodang. The initiative represents an ongoing effort by Korean heritage authorities to modernize preservation tactics in a nation acutely aware of how quickly its ancient wooden treasures can be lost. Traditional East Asian timber architecture, built without modern fire-retardant materials, r