Jungmyeongjeon was called “Suokheon”, when it was first used as an imperial library. Emperor Gojong stayed here due to Deoksugung Palace Fire in 1904. Its name was changed into Jungmyeongjeon later.<br>In 1905 Eulsa-year treaty (The Protectorate Treaty between Korea and Japan in 1905) which took away the diplomatic sovereignty of Korean Empire was signed in Jungmyeongjeon. So Gojong dispatched diplomatic envoys to international peace conference held in Hague, Netherlands to announce to the world the brutality of Imperial Japan. However they were unable to enter the conference by the Japanese interruption. As a result, Emperor Gojong was forced to abdicate the throne to his son by the Imperial Japanese.