Deoksugung Palace's Daehanmun Gate (덕수궁 대한문)

Deoksugung Palace's Daehanmun Gate (덕수궁 대한문)

- Homepage
https://royal.khs.go.kr/

- Tel
+82-2-771-9951

Located near City Hall station, Daehanmun Gate is the main gate of Deoksugung Palace, one of the princiapl five palaces of Joseon dynasty. The name "Daehan" means wish for eternal prosperity of the Korean Empire. In front of the gate, the Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is held twice daily, along with the reproduction of costumes and style throughout the year.

- Address : 99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul


※ Presentation Information
- Age Range
All ages

- Parking
Not available

- Day Off
Mondays
* Open if Monday falls on a public holiday and will be closed the next business day instead.

- Operating Hours
[General viewing] 09:00-21:00 (Last admission 20:00)



- Admission Fees
Individuals 1,000 won

* Free admission applies to minors under 19 & senior citizens over 65 with an ID

- Interpretation Services Offered
Guided tours available; check the official website for details

◎ Nearby Tourism Infobox

⊙ Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식)

- Homepage
royal.khs.go.kr/dsg
www.royalguard.kr

- Tel
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
• For more info: +82-2-737-6444

Deoksugung Palace has held a guard changing ceremony since 1996 after thorough historical research by leading historians. The ceremony, which is held in front of Daehanmun Gate of Deoksugung Palace, is a tradition similar to the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace and offers a rare opportunity to experience royal culture. The royal gate is opened and closed at pre-determined times, and the gatekeepers in charge of guard duty and patrols hold a shift ceremony three times a day.



The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is a highly recommended event for tourists. It is held three times a day, with each ceremony following the same procedure and lasts for forty minutes to an hour, and the ceremony is free of charge. There are no ceremonies on Mondays as well as on severely cold or hot days.


As the ceremony begins, the changing of the guards commences replete with traditional musical instruments, and exchanges a password for verification. An eight-minute guard ceremony ensues, followed by a seven-minute change ceremony, and finally a patrol that completes the ceremony. The procedure takes a dramatic turn when 18 guards in six official positions beat a drum and bellow some orders.


The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is a great opportunity to experience a rare traditional scene. The guards’ splendid costumes, with their brilliant primary colors, are a pleasure to view. Once the ceremony is over, visitors can take pictures with the gatekeepers.

⊙ Yurimmyeon (유림면)

- Tel
+82-2-755-0659

This store, which has a long history of over 50 years, makes noodles using only Bongpyeong buckwheat. The best menu at this restaurant is buckwheat noodles. This Korean dishes restaurant is located in Jung-gu, Seoul.

⊙ Jeongdong Observatory (정동전망대)

- Tel
+82-2-120

Jeongdong Observatory is located on the 13th floor of Seoul City Hall Seosomun building. The observatory has a cafe inside where visitors can enjoy a drink while gazing upon the magnificent view of Deoksugung Palace from above. In addition, the walls of the cafe are decorated with photos of old Jeongdong.

⊙ Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink (서울광장 스케이트장)

- Homepage
plaza.seoul.go.kr/seoul (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, French, Spanish)

- Tel
+82-2133-2691

Seoul Plaza was established in 2004, and is located by Seoul City Hall. The plaza is shaped like the full moon. Seoul Plaza hosts a wide array of cultural events including concerts and exhibitions for residents and visitors. The plaza transforms into an outdoor skating rink every winter, a popular attraction in the city.



The facility houses one rink for beginners and one for advanced skaters, and also hosts various events during its operating hours. There are also convenient facilities like skate rental, outdoor rest area, and outdoor standing area for ice skaters and spectators.



Ice skaters at the rink must wear gloves, and the plaza also offers a training program to teach interested individuals how to have fun while skating safely. To learn how to skate, visit the website to register for a training session in advance.

⊙ Hotel The Plaza (플라자호텔)

- Homepage
www.hoteltheplaza.com (Korean, English, Japanese)

- Tel
+82-2-771-2200

The hotel is ideally situated in the center of Seoul, located close to many office areas, major banks, the hotel, and the city's main public transportation junctions. Namdaemun Gate and many shopping areas are not too far, making it convenient for business guests and tourists alike. Also, the hotel faces the Blue House and the former City Hall building directly at closer distance, completing a spectacular view over Seoul.

⊙ Seoul Plaza (서울광장)

- Homepage
plaza.seoul.go.kr

- Tel
+82-2-2133-5640

Seoul Plaza in front of Seoul City Hall is a historic site where the March 1, 1919 (Samil) Independence Movement and the pro-democracy movement in June 1987 were held. It is also a well-known place where tens of thousands of Korean soccer fans gathered together to watch the 2002 World Cup Games. Being located within the center of the city and surrounded by many historic attractions, including Deoksugung Palace, Seoul Plaza has become a representative attraction of Seoul.

⊙ Seoul Street Art Festival (서울거리예술축제)

- Homepage
www.ssaf.or.kr

- Tel
+82-2-758-2036

Seoul Street Art Festival is held throughout Seoul and introduces high quality street performances.

⊙ Olive Young - City Hall Station Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (올리브영 시청역)

- Homepage
www.oliveyoung.co.kr

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This work was created by the Korea Tourism Organization for 25 years and opened as the first type of public Nuri. You can download it for free from the Korea Tourism Organization, https://kto.visitkorea.or.kr/eng.kto