An intrusion detection system that senses outsiders' movements and plays warning broadcasts has been installed at major halls in Deoksugung. If damage to national heritage or trespassing occurs, an alarm sounds on site and a signal is sent immediately to the central control room.
The Deoksugung Office of the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the Korea Heritage Service said on the 10th that it completed the "Deoksugung hall intrusion detection system construction project."
Through this project, infrared (PIR) intrusion detection sensors were installed at major halls including Junghwajeon, Hamnyeongjeon, Deokhongjeon, Junmyeongdang, Jeukjodang, and Seogeodang. When a person enters a hall, the sensor detects the movement.
Hamnyeongjeon and Deokhongjeon were also equipped with automatic warning broadcast devices. When an intrusion is detected, an announcement is broadcast on site.
The central control room was fitted with beacon lights, alarms, and a monitor pop-up alert system. As soon as an intrusion is detected in a hall, a signal is sent to the control room so staff can check the situation on site and respond.
An official at the Deoksugung Office said, "We expect not only to deter trespassing in advance and prevent damage to national heritage, but also to shorten the initial response time when an intrusion occurs, enabling more systematic safety management."
The move is part of efforts to strengthen safety management to prevent unauthorized access to and damage of national heritage in advance. The Korea Heritage Service plans to introduce an artificial intelligence (AI)-based intelligent detection system starting in September to 180 key cultural heritage items, including national treasures and treasures, and 358 closed-circuit (CC) TV channels.
Deoksugung is a palace that served as the imperial palace of the Korean Empire. It began its history as a palace when it was used as a temporary palace after the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592, having previously been the private residence of Prince Wolsan, elder brother of King Seongjong of Joseon.
After Gojong proclaimed the Korean Empire in 1897, it was used as the imperial palace. While traditional hanok buildings and Western-style structures stood together, its scale was greatly reduced and several halls were demolished during the Japanese colonial period.
The Korea Heritage Service plans to strengthen safety management of the major halls of Deoksugung, which have high historical value, while expanding an intelligent monitoring system to key national heritage in the future.