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Gyeongungung(慶運宮) was used as a temporary palace when all of the other palaces were destroyed during the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592. When Empress Myeongseong(明成皇后) was murdered by a Japanese in 1895, King Gojong(高宗) took refuge in the Russian legation on February 1896 and started to reconstruct Gyeongungung. He resided only in Gyeongungung and did not make any official visits to other palaces, since he returned to Gyeonungung on February 1897. He continued to reside in Gyeonungung renamed as Deoksugung(德壽宮) even after his forced abdication and the enthronement of Sunjong(純宗) as an emperor in 1907; when the main palace was changed to Changdeokgung(昌德宮). The reconstruction and use of Gyeongunggung around the Gwangmu(光武) era of the Daehan Empire(大韓帝國) are divided into three periods. The first period was from August of 1896 to January 1901, which formed an overall structure of a palace. At this time, main constructions were a building for enshrining the body of Empress Myeongseong, the main residence of Gojoing, Hamgnyongjeon(咸寧殿) and also the official assembly hall of the king and the servants, Junghwajeon(中和殿). At first, Inhwamun gate(仁化門) was built on the south and later on the main gate of Daeanmun(大安門). Finally, high walls surrounding the palace were built. During the second period, the throne hall(法殿) was constructed, which was to perform various kinds of ceremonies of showing royalty to sovereignty. This building was named as Junghwajeon and the former Junhwajeon hall was renamed as Jeukjodang(卽祚堂). Therefore, Gyeongungung was equipped with various functions of a palace. However, on April 1904, fire broke out in Hamnyeonjeon destroying the main buildings of Gyeongungung and losing many important functions of a palace. During the third period, Gojong resided in the area of Suokheon(漱玉軒) and main buildings of the palace were restored. For the restoration, many laborers and materials were employed and main buildings such as Junghwajeon and Hamnyeongjeon were reconstructed with surrounding gates and finally the main gate of Daeanmun. In this period, Japan, with the victory in the Russo-Japanese war, started to make a stronger pressure on the Daehan Empire and forced Korea to sign a treaty to deprive Korea of her diplomatic and military sovereignty. In the end, Gogong was forced to abdicate and the next emperor, Sunjong was moved to Changdeokgung. Then, the function of Gyeongungung as a main palace was terminated and Gyeongungung was turned into a residence of the former emperor, Gojong, and renamed as Deoksugung. The construction and reconstruction of Gyeongungung were conducted during the political turmoils and subsequently much in haste. Therefore the overall organization of the palace is in short of a comprehensive design and the size of buildings are rather small. There was no Junggungjeon(中宮殿), the residence of a queen, due to the absence of a queen after the death of Empress Myeongseong. Unlike other palaces, there were no mountains behind the palace and thereby the absence of a back garden(後苑). Furthermore, the number of buildings for offices were also very small, which were usually located inside or near the palace to serve the king nearby. Compared to such shortage of the main functions, the ritual place for commemoration and funerals and the storage for books and management of information were installed in Gyeongungung. In addition, the western style of buildings which were used as a banquet place for the diplomats resident in Seoul were newly constructed. This distinct change was possible, since the Daehan Empire started to make free diplomatic ties with other countries, not tied to traditional China-centered diplomacy. Gyeonungung palace was the only resident palace of Gojong during the era of Gwangmu(光武), the time of the Daehan Empire when many efforts were made to build new kinds of diplomatic ties with Western countries and to keep independence of the Empire, unfortunately only to be colonized by Japan. This palace went trough many changes and distortions during the Japanese colonial period and afterwards. Nevertheless, this palace preserves many priceless traces which evoke and represent the history of the time.