Unhyeongung is a small palace complex in Jongno that served as the private residence of the Heungseon Daewongun, the powerful regent who ruled Korea in place of his young son King Gojong in the 1860s and 1870s. The site is less grand than the five official palaces but more intimate, with restored rooms furnished as they were in the mid-nineteenth century and a courtyard garden that is particularly attractive in spring.
The complex hosts traditional cultural performances and wedding ceremony reenactments on weekends in spring and autumn. The admission fee is modest, and the site is small enough to explore in about an hour. Located near Anguk Station, it combines well with a visit to the nearby Bukchon Hanok Village.