The Deoksugung Palace Management Office of the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center under the Cultural Heritage Administration, led by Director Kwoen Jeom-su, and the German Embassy in Seoul, represented by Ambassador Georg Wilfried Schmidt, are co-hosting the special exhibition “Journey into Tomorrow” at Deoksugung Palace’s Dondeokjeon Hall from December 9th to December 17th. This exhibition commemorates the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Germany.The choice of the Dondeokjeon hall for this special exhibition is highly symbolic, as it served as a center for diplomatic activities during the Korean Empire. After being restored, it was opened to the public in September 2023.
The exhibition is divided into three sections, representing the Past, the Present, and the Future of Korean-German relations. The first section explores the 140-year history, starting from the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce between Germany and Korea in 1883 to the present. Visitors can explore the history of exchanges between the two countries through various photographs and videos; e.g. replicas of armor and helmet presented by Emperor Gojong to the German prince Heinrich during his state visit in 1899, scenes from the 1960s depicting the dispatch of Korean miners and nurses to Germany, and images of the first public German language educational institution in Korea named ‘Hansung State German Language School(Gwanrip Deokeo Hakgyo)’from 1903 will be displayed. 

PERIOD: December 9th to 17th 2023

OPENING HOURS: TUE-SUN 09:00 – 17:30 (Last Admission 17:00)

VENUE:  Dondeokjeon Hall at Deoksugung Palace