Deep within the UNESCO-listed grounds of Changdeok Palace in central Seoul, behind grand wooden gates that once shielded Korea’s sovereign rulers from public gaze, lies an extraordinary architectural crossroads where centuries of dynastic tradition collide with early 20th-century Western luxury. Beginning Oct. 20, visitors will step directly into these private living quarters and official chambers through an exclusive guided program hosted by the Changdeok Palace Office under the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the National Heritage Service. The limited-run tour, titled “Entering the Inner Court of Changdeokgung: Living Spaces of the King and Queen,” offers rare entry into Huijeongdang — the royal bedchamber turned administrative hall — and Daejojeon, the queen’s official residence. While Huijeongdang has been accessible during select special viewings since 2022, this month marks the first time that the interior of Daejojeon will open to the general public. Destroyed by a devastating fire in 1917 and rebuilt in 1920 during the Japanese colonial period, both structures refl