Seokjojeon is the first western building built in the palaces. Gojong ordered to build a western-styled building in Deoksugung. There was a pond in front of Seokjojeon, with rectangular shape and a round island. But in Japanese colonization time, the Japanese people got teh pond to become a round plus rectangular shape and made the island to become a fountain. Actually, there is a sad history in seokjojeon. The Eulsa-treaty was signed in Seokjojeon. Five servants signed the Eulsa-treaty, so it doesn't have Gojong's sign on it. So Eulsa-treaty is invalid.