The annexed palace villa of Nakseonjae, inside the Changdeok Palace in central Seoul. / Korea Times file



By Kwon Ji-youn

Three million won ($2,610) for a one-night stay at an adjacent hall of an old palace?

That is what the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) is considering as part of plans to commercialize a UNESCO-registered heritage site.

The CHA plans to charge visitors up to 3 million won for a night at the Nakseonjae Hall of the Changdeok Palace in central Seoul, when, and if, it is transformed into a place to stay, a local newspaper reported.

The CHA said last month it was looking at opening two buildings that are part of Nakseonjae Hall to the public, with the aim of "breathing new life into the palace."

Concerns are growing that only diplomats and CEOs will be able to enjoy the rooms because of the high cost.

CHA officials said Thursday the agency is yet to fix a price per night.

"By attracting diplomats and CEOs, we hope to give the turnover rate a boost, so that more people will be able to enjoy the facilities," a CHA official said. "But nothing has been set in stone. We're looking into a variety of options, and this is just one of them."

This comes on top of complaints that transforming a national treasure into a hotel of sorts would damage the well-preserved heritage site.

Others questioned why the CHA was reviewing a plan to turn the palace into a lodging facility when others have built exhibition halls or experience centers to attract tourists.

There are also concerns about safety.

The CHA's plans to mold a portion of Changdeok Palace into what it calls a "K-Heritage Inn" has surfaced just two years after the restoration of Sungnyemun, which was destroyed in an arson attack in early 2008. It will use as a benchmark the Paradore hotels in Spain, luxurious hotels usually in historic buildings such as a monastery or castle.

But the monasteries and castles are often stone-built, while the palaces in Korea are wooden, making them vulnerable to fire.

The Changdeok Palace is one of the major palaces in Seoul that date back to the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). It was the second royal villa built following the construction of Gyeongbok Palace in 1405. It was home to many kings of the Joseon Kingdom, and is the best preserved of the five remaining Joseon palaces.

The Nakseonjae Hall was built in 1847 by King Heonjong and comprises three separate buildings — the Nakseonjae, Seokbokheon and Sugangjae. It is best known as the place where the Japanese-born empress Lee Bang-ja and King Gojong's only daughter, Princess Dokhye, lived out their remaining days.