1.     This story is attributed to the name Wangsimni (“Go ten li more”), and the final location turned out to be today’s palace grounds.

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2.     This design predated Japanese colonization and is often wrongly attributed to the Japanese. Given the multiple palace fires throughout Joseon, feng shui concerns may not have been unfounded.

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3.     In Korean metaphor, the Seungjeongwon was referred to as the king’s “throat and tongue” (후설) — the conduit of his will and voice.

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4.     The true reason could be Sejong’s concern that Ming envoys might view Ganui-dae as a challenge to Chinese authority, as China regarded astronomy as a sign of imperial dominance. Sejong admitted: “I fear the Chinese envoys might see the Ganui-dae from Gyeonghoeru.” — Sejong Sillok, January 14, 1443.

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5.     Since Cheonchujeon was a working office and not a living space, it is more likely that Munjong, already gravely ill, remained in Gangnyeongjeon and passed away there.

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6.     In the aftermath of Danjong’s murder, stories spread that King Sejo lived in torment, suffering from persistent skin disease and nightmares. One legend claims that Queen Hyeondeok’s vengeful spirit—Danjong’s mother—appeared in Sejo’s dreams, spitting at him and calling him her son’s killer. After that, his condition worsened.

Tragedy also followed Sejo’s sons. His eldest, Crown Prince Uigyeong, died suddenly at twenty. His second son, Prince Haeyang, who became King Yejong, also died at the same age. Was it retribution? A curse passed from father to sons? Some view it as karma—the lingering price of a stolen throne.

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7.     A comparison of the pavilion's historical designs suggests that King Seongjong may have intentionally favored refined detail and symbolic craftsmanship—such as floral and dragon carvings—to impress visiting Chinese envoys with Joseon’s cultural sophistication. Later reconstructions emphasized scale over intricacy, shifting the focus toward grandeur rather than ornamentation.

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8.     According to one account, the Crown Princess urged the Crown Prince(Injong) to escape quickly when the fire broke out. However, the Prince believed the fire had been set by his stepmother, Queen Munjeong, who despised him. Convinced that even if he escaped, he would only anger her further and face the same fate again, he chose to stay and die alongside the Crown Princess. But when King Jungjong, upon hearing the news, rushed to the scene and desperately called out for his son, the Prince changed his mind and fled the flames.

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9.     The Crying Ghost in Aryeonbang: One of the most chilling legends surrounding Aryeonbang dates back to the reign of King Yeongjo. After the tragic execution of his son, Crown Prince Sado, it is said that a weeping sound echoed through the halls near Aryeonbang. “The King Who Cried Alone”: According to court maids' oral records, Yeongjo would retreat to Aryeonbang late at night, speaking softly to himself, occasionally breaking into sobs. Some believed he was haunted by Sado’s spirit or guilt.

Mourning rituals: Rather than hold elaborate memorials, Yeongjo allegedly chose this quiet chamber to perform private rites, offering incense in secrecy.

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10.     The Spiritual and Symbolic Link to Gyeongbokgung

Gyeongbokgung, once abandoned after the Japanese invasions and barely used during Sado’s lifetime, was resurrected by his son, King Jeongjo. King Jeongjo, known for his filial piety and deep guilt over his father’s fate, restored the palace not only as a political center but also as a symbolic gesture of justice and healing. Some speculate that Jeongjo’s efforts to reconstruct Gyeongbokgung and build Suwon Hwaseong Fortress were meant to spiritually redeem Sado’s memory. Although this event took place in Changdeokgung, many royalists and mourners later associated Gyeongbokgung, as the ancestral seat of power, with Sado’s unjust death. Later during Gojong: A legend speaks of a disheveled figure in a royal robe seen by night guards during King Gojong’s restoration of the palace, interpreted by some as Sado’s vengeful spirit.

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11.     Though just 1.5 kilometers apart, the palaces served different functions—Gyeongbokgung for ceremonies and Changdeokgung as a royal residence—making a hidden route both practical and strategic. Jeongjo, wary of palace spies and assassination threats following his father’s death, may have sought discreet movement between palaces for protection and political planning. While no official records confirm the tunnel, oral histories, topographical hints, and even Japanese-era excavation reports from the 1940s suggest such a passage may have existed. Some believe it was fully underground; others think it was a symbolic “path of intention” linking statecraft and scholarship. Though unproven, the tale continues to captivate visitors with the intrigue of royal secrecy beneath Seoul’s streets.

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12.     In the late 19th century, amid repeated misfortunes such as fire, foreign intervention, and internal rebellion, Gojong is said to have allowed a mudang to conduct a gut (굿) to cleanse the palace of “bad spirits. The ritual involved a white-clad mudang, drums, and chants, performed in a curtained-off area at night. Only trusted court ladies and a few high officials were aware of it. According to anecdotal accounts, the ritual included calling upon the spirit of a deceased court official believed to be cursing the royal family from beyond the grave.

While no official record documents this event in detail, it appears in secret court diaries and was whispered among the palace attendants for years afterward.

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13.     The Disappearing Servant: Another lesser-known tale involves a palace maid who was tasked with delivering late-night tea to Aryeonbang during King Gojong’s reign. She was never seen again. The guards claimed they saw her enter a screen door, but not exit, prompting wild theories about secret walls, hidden lovers, or even curses.

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14.     The most famous tale tells of a young palace maid who served during the later years of the Joseon Dynasty. According to oral tradition:She was falsely accused of stealing royal property and, in despair, drowned herself in the pond surrounding Gyeonghoeru. After her death, servants and guards began reporting strange phenomena such as unexplained ripples in still water, a pale figure reflected in the moonlight, or a sudden drop in temperature around the pavilion.Guards claimed to hear sobbing or feel cold air even on warm nights when patrolling the area. Eventually, whispers of the “virgin ghost” spread among the court, and some records suggest that King Gojong ordered a ritual to appease the spirit in the 19th century, even though no official documents confirm this. Continued Belief and Cultural Echoes: Palace workers in the modern era, especially during restoration in the 20th century, have mentioned unease or "bad energy" around Gyeonghoeru after dusk.

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15.     Interestingly, American architect Frank Lloyd Wright visited Baron Okura’s home and was impressed by the Korean ondol (heated floor) system. Although it is not certain whether he experienced Jaseondang itself, Wright’s exposure to this Korean heating technology influenced his later designs. Ironically, Korea re-imported the modernized version of its own ondol system thanks to Wright.​

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16.     Interestingly, American architect Frank Lloyd Wright visited Baron Okura’s home and was impressed by the Korean ondol (heated floor) system. Although it is not certain whether he experienced Jaseondang itself, Wright’s exposure to this Korean heating technology influenced his later designs. Ironically, Korea re-imported the modernized version of its own ondol system thanks to Wright.