Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond

Basile Morin · CC BY-SA 4.0

A Silla palace pond dug in the 7th century, three halls reflected at night in water like glass.

In 674 King Munmu had a pond dug in the eastern palace, with three islands and twelve artificial hills around it. The banks were deliberately made to wind, so that from no single point can you see the whole surface — an old trick that makes the pond read as larger than it is. When Silla fell the palace was abandoned and the pond dried; a dredging in the 1970s recovered more than thirty thousand objects, among them a fourteen-sided wooden die inscribed with forfeits for losers at a drinking party. Three halls have been rebuilt and are lit from dusk — this is the most photographed night scene in Gyeongju.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond?

Year-round; evenings

How much does it cost to visit Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond?

3,000 KRW

How long do you need at Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond?

1 hour

What are the opening hours of Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond?

09:00–22:00, last entry 21:30

Did you know

The pond was dug in 674 under King Munmu of Silla.
A dredging in the 1970s recovered over 30,000 artefacts.
Among them was a 14-sided wooden die used at court drinking parties.
The banks wind deliberately so the whole surface is never visible at once.

Travel tips

Come after full dark — the reflection is the whole point.
Still air gives the flattest water; after 9pm it thins out.
Cheap and open late, so it slots neatly into the end of a Gyeongju day.

Source: https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/contents/contentsView.do?vcontsId=84259

Updated: 2026-08-04