UNSRC Korean Cultural Society

The Chosun Ilbo

The bed of Korea’s last empress will go on public display this Friday. The Cultural Heritage Administration’s Changdeok Palace office said the completion of restoration work on the bed used by the last empress of Korea, Filial Empress Sunjeong (1894-1966), the wife of Emperor Sunjong, until her death will be open to public in the Daejo-jeon, Queen’s Place, in Changdeok Palace.

/Courtesy of the Cultural Heritage Administration

The bed, which seems to have been imported from China during the period, has a flamboyantly carved wooden frame with images of dragons, and images of the phoenix carved in the two ends. At 224 cm long, 154 cm wide and 113.5 cm tall, this classically designed bed is thought to be Korea’s first bed with a spring mattress.