Deoksugung Palace

While many of the specific scenes involving the "Glory Hotel" and the city streets were filmed at the Sunshine Land open set in Nonsan, Deoksugung Palace is the real-world historical heart of the drama. It serves as the residence of Emperor Gojong (a pivotal character in the series) and symbolizes the turbulent "Enlightenment Period" depicted in the show. The Imperial Palace of the Korean Empire: Unlike other grand palaces in Seoul which represent the earlier Joseon Dynasty, Deoksugung is the palace of the Korean Empire (1897–1910) . This is exactly the era in which Mr. Sunshine takes place. It was here that King Gojong declared the empire and attempted to modernize Korea to protect its sovereignty, a struggle that forms the core political conflict of the drama. Architecture: East Meets West The palace is unique because it features traditional Korean wooden structures alongside imposing Western-style stone buildings. Seokjojeon (Stone Hall): A Neo-Classical Western building designed by a British architect. This structure visually represents the influx of Western influence, diplomats, and technology (like electricity and trains) that Eugene Choi and Go Ae-shin navigate throughout the series. Junghwajeon: The traditional throne hall where official state affairs were conducted. The US Legation Context: In the drama, Eugene Choi works at the US Legation. Historically, the real US Legation was located in the Jeong-dong area, immediately adjacent to Deoksugung Palace. This proximity explains why Eugene's character is so often entangled with the Emperor's affairs—physically and politically, they were neighbors. The Stonewall Walkway (Doldam-gil): Surrounding the palace is a famous stone-walled road. While Mr. Sunshine filmed its specific street scenes at the Nonsan set to capture the 1900s look, this real-life walkway in Seoul offers the exact atmospheric "vibe" of the romantic, quiet strolls Eugene and Ae-shin share. It is one of Seoul's most popular dates spots today. --------------------------------------------------------------- Reality vs. Filming Location Note: It is important to note that because the real palace is a protected cultural heritage site, the production team built a massive, detailed replica of early 1900s Seoul (including the Glory Hotel and the trams) called Sunshine Land in Nonsan, South Korea. However, Deoksugung remains the historical location where the actual events inspiring the drama took place. Mr. Sunshine Filming Locations This video provides a look at the "Sunshine Land" studio in Nonsan, showing the "Glory Hotel" and street sets that were built to recreate the atmosphere of the Deoksugung area during the drama's time period.