Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (수문장 교대의식)

Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (수문장 교대의식)

- Homepage
www.chf.or.kr

- Tel
+82-2-3210-1645

In the Joseon dynasty, the royal guards of the palace were gatekeepers who were responsible for guarding the the main gates of Gyeongbokgung Palace as well as the main gates of the city such as Heunginjimun Gate and Sungnyemun Gate. The royal guards worked in shift duties and were in charge of opening and closing Gwanghwamun Gate. Before the royal guard system was enforced in 1469, the palace gates were protected by soldiers of the central army. The Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony held at Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Gwanghwamun area reenacts the guard-changing procedure that took place during the Joseon dynasty, along with the reproduction of costumes and weapons, based on historical records.

- Address : 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul


※ Presentation Information
- Age Limit
Open to visitors of all ages

- Event Date
20250101 ~ 20251231

- Schedule
[Royal Guard Changing Ceremony] 10:00, 14:00
[Ceremony of Guarding Gwanghwamun Gate] 11:00, 13:00
[Public Training of the Royal Guard Soldiers] 09:35, 13:35

* Schedule is subject to change; refer to the official website for details.
* Events may be canceled in the case of rain.

- Location
Gyeongbokgung Palace Heungnyemun Gate and Gwanghwamun Gate areas

- Event Duration
Varies by performance

- Sponsor
Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation

- Sponsor Phone
+82-2-3210-1645

- Fees
Free



- Introduction
In the Joseon dynasty, the royal guards of the palace were gatekeepers who were responsible for guarding the the main gates of Gyeongbokgung Palace as well as the main gates of the city such as Heunginjimun Gate and Sungnyemun Gate. The royal guards worked in shift duties and were in charge of opening and closing Gwanghwamun Gate. Before the royal guard system was enforced in 1469, the palace gates were protected by soldiers of the central army. The Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony held at Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Gwanghwamun area reenacts the guard-changing procedure that took place during the Joseon dynasty, along with the reproduction of costumes and weapons, based on historical records.

- Programs
Refer to the official website

◎ Nearby Tourism Infobox

⊙ Gyeongbokgung Palace Jagyeongjeon Tea Ceremony (경복궁 자경전 다례체험행사)

- Homepage
www.chf.or.kr (Korean, English)

- Tel
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
• For more info: +82-2-3210-4683

This traditional tea ceremony experience takes place at Jagyeongjeon Hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace every Saturday and Sunday. Participation is by reservation on a first come, first serve basis.



The ceremony includes a tea culture demonstration and experience, making honey cakes, traditional etiquette introduction, and lectures related to tea culture. To participate in the tea ceremony, download the application form from the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation website and submit the form through email.

⊙ Royal Culture Festival (궁중문화축전)

- Homepage
www.kh.or.kr

- Tel
+82-1522-2295

The Royal Culture festival is held at the five Royal Palaces and Jongmyo Shrine. The festival first began in 2014 and provides visitors with first-hand knowledge of these important cultural heritages through unique performances, exhibitions, experiences and programs. The festival expanded in 2021 to be hosted twice a year, in spring and in fall.

⊙ Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁)

- Homepage
royal.khs.go.kr

- Tel
+82-2-3700-3900

Gyeongbokgung Palace was built in 1395 as the official palace of the Joseon dynasty by Yi Seong-gye, the future King Taejo and founder of the new regime. Gyeongbokgung Palace is commonly referred to as the Northern Palace because of its location to the north, comparied to Changdeokgung Palace in the east and Gyeonghuigung Palace in the west. Gyeongbokgung Palace is arguably the most beautiful and is the largest of all five palaces. Many Joseon kings were crowned here. The premises were once destroyed by fire during the Imjin War (1592-1598). However, all of the palace buildings were later restored under the leadership of Heungseondaewongun during the reign of King Gojong. The assassination of Empress Myeongseong, however, resulted in Gyeongbokgung Palace losing its function as a royal palace, eventually witnessing the downfall of the Joseon dynasty. Gyeongbokgung Palace retains the original Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, a prime example of Joseon architecture, and the Hyangwonjeong Pavilion and pond. The sculptures in the Geunjeongjeon Hall exemplify Joseon-era sculpture techniques. The west side of the area outside Heungnyemun Gate is occupied by the National Palace Museum of Korea, while the eastern side of Hyangwonjeong Pavilion within the Gyeongbokgung Palace is occupied by the National Folk Museum of Korea.

⊙ Beodeul Maru - Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (한국문화재재단 버들마루)

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⊙ Gyeongbokgung Palace Special Evening Admission (경복궁 야간 특별관람)

- Homepage
www.royalpalace.go.kr

- Tel
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
• For more info: +82-2-3700-3900~1

The special evening admission to Gyeongbokgung Palace takes place for a limited time every year. Visitors can purchase tickets for this special evening program online.

⊙ The Children’s Museum of the National Folk Museum of Korea (국립민속박물관&국립민속박물관 어린이박물관)

- Homepage
www.nfm.go.kr

The Children’s Museum of the National Folk Museum of Korea, located within Gyeongbokgung Palace, showcases artifacts related to Korean traditional culture. This interactive museum allows children to experience and learn about various aspects of Korean traditional clothing, food, society, culture, and games firsthand. Especially catering to children from Asian countries, there is a service for renting items, and reservations are required for admission.

⊙ The National Folk Museum's Korean Folk Performances for Visitors (국립민속박물관 우리민속한마당)

- Homepage
www.nfm.go.kr

- Tel
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
• For more info: +82-2-3704-3114

The National Folk Museum is the leading museum depicting Korean folk culture that attracts 3 million visitors every year. Every Saturday, the museum offers free performances where Korean music, traditional dance, martial arts, and mask plays are performed for Korean and international spectators to illustrate Korea’s major seasonal events, special exhibitions, and traditional intangible cultures.

⊙ National Folk Museum of Korea Children’s Museum (국립민속박물관 어린이박물관)

- Homepage
kidsnfm.go.kr (Korean, English)

- Tel
+82-2-3704-4540, 4524

The Children’s Museum is a hands-on experience museum run by the National Folk Museum of Korea. A variety of visual aids and assembly models allow children to touch and feel pieces and experience folk history in an interactive way. The theme of the exhibitions consists of folk clothing, food, shelter, social life, and entertainment. The museum has a number of interactive spaces including a table set for an ancestral ritual, magnet miniatures depicting a baby’s first birthday, and an area where young visitors can build a folk house. Young learners can also create an avatar wearing in Hanbok, make kimchi using visual aids, or play gonu (a traditional board game). The museum also collects, preserves, and maintains relics and historical items related to youth and youth culture.

⊙ The Great Full Moon Festival (정월대보름 한마당)

- Homepage
www.nfm.go.kr

- Tel
+82-2-3704-3106

The National Folk Museum is celebrating the first full moon of the Lunar new year, Jeongwol Daeboreum. A variety of experiences are prepared to eliminate bad luck and pray for prosperity and health. The event provides a chance for locals and tourists alike to learn more about the traditional culture of Korea.



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