A laser art performance takes place during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Royal Culture Festival at Gyeongbok Palace in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
As dusk settles over Seoul, the gates of Gyeongbok Palace will remain open to the public, offering a rare chance to wander Korea’s most iconic royal complex under the glow of evening lights.
The Korea Heritage Service’s Gyeongbokgung Palace Management Office said Wednesday it will operate its spring nighttime viewing program from May 13 to June 14, with tickets available starting Sunday at 10 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis.
Visitors will be able to explore key areas of the palace. The site will remain open from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
This year’s program will feature traditional court music performances that add a ceremonial atmosphere to the palace grounds.
To celebrate the birth of King Sejong, the Traditional Performing Arts Company of the Blind will perform on May 15 at Geunjeongjeon, the king’s former living quarters. The commemorative programming will continue with a series of 10 performances by musicians from the National Gugak Center, scheduled at Sajeongjeon Hall between May 20 and June 5.
Tickets will be sold through Interpark, with 3,000 available per day and a limit of four per person. Foreign visitors can purchase up to two tickets on-site at Gwanghwamun on the day of entry, with 300 tickets allocated daily.
Free admission will be offered to children under age 6, seniors age 65 and older, visitors wearing hanbok, or traditional Korean clothing, and other eligible groups upon verification at the entrance.
Officials said the program is part of broader efforts to make Korea’s historic palaces more accessible through immersive cultural experiences.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
Source: Korea Times News
