Shadows of the Palace: Creepy Tales from Korea’s Royal Past
Episode 3: The Haunted Pond of Changgyeonggung
When the moonlight spills over Changgyeonggung Palace, the surface of its quiet pond gleams like glass. But legend says that beneath the stillness lies something more than just koi and lily pads.
I first visited Changgyeonggung in spring. The scent of cherry blossoms hung in the air, and the peaceful beauty of Chundangji Pond made it easy to forget that even this elegant palace held dark secrets.
An elderly volunteer guide noticed me lingering near the pond and leaned in.
“Have you heard about the crying at night?” she asked softly.
According to her, a young court lady was once falsely accused of spying during a time of power struggles. As punishment, she was thrown into the pond. They say she didn’t scream—just quietly sank, her white hanbok drifting like a ghost below the surface.
Since then, strange sounds have echoed near the pond at night—soft weeping, ripples with no cause, and sometimes a lullaby in a voice no one can identify.
Intrigued, I returned to the palace one quiet evening. The last visitors had left, and the wind stirred the pond’s surface. As dusk settled in, I heard it—a soft, melodic humming from the center of the water.
I stepped closer. The reflection began to shimmer strangely. For just a moment, I saw her—a pale face beneath the surface, eyes open, lips moving with the song.
And then—ripples. Silence.
I stepped back, heart pounding. I didn’t look back.
That night, the lullaby followed me into my dreams.
