Changdeokgung Palace was built in 1405 (the 5th year of King Taejong's reign) as a separate and secondary palace of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the prime palace. initially, only a few buildings were built, but as successive kings mainly used Changdeokgung Palace, the number of buildings and Huwon the Secret Garden area gradually increased. In 1592 (the 25th year of King Seonjo's reign), all the palaces in Hanyang were burned down. But it was the first palace to be built in 1610 (the second year of King Gwanghaegun's reign) and served as de facto the prime palace for about 270 years until Gyeongbokgung Palace was rebuilt during the reign of King Gojong. Changdeokgung Palace was called Donggueol(the palace in the east) with no boundaries between it and Changgyeonggung Palace, and buildings and Huwon were added throughout the ages to form the largest remaining palace in Seoul.

Changdeokgung Palace has the distinction of being a palace that was used throughout the Joseon Dynasty, the Korean Empire, Japanese occupation, and the Republic of Korea. Most of the kings of the late Joseon Dynasty ascended to the throne at Injeongmun Gate and passed away at Daejojeon Hall. Especially at Heungbokheon Hall, the annex to Daejojeon Hall, the Japan-Korea Treaty was decided in 1910. In 1917, when Huijeongdang Hall and Daejojeon Hall were burned down by the conflagration, Gangnyeongjeon Hall and Gyotaejeon Hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace were relocated, and the interiors were decorated in a Western style by installing floors and glass windows. And after the 1960s, the last imperial family of the Korean Empire passed away while living in the Nakseonjae area. Although there were many transformations over the years, it has been restored to its original form as much as possible since the 1990s.

Instead of following an artificial structure like Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace was built in harmony with nature by preserving the most of the surrounding terrain. Especially, the area of Huwon the Secret Garden is larger than that of other palaces, and trees, ponds, and small pavilions that are over 300 years old are arranged to match nature, making it a beautiful sight to see even today. In 1997, it was recognised as the most Korean palace and was the only palace to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.