What the Changdeokgung interior special tour is
This in-depth guided commentary program allows visitors to see inside Huijeongdang (희정당) and Daejojeon (대조전) at Changdeokgung (창덕궁). Both halls served as living quarters and offices for Joseon kings and queens, featuring traditional Korean wooden furniture styles integrated with Western cultural furnishings. Both buildings burned down in a 1917 fire and were rebuilt in 1920. Following restoration work, Daejojeon is opened to the public on the inside for the first time.
Inside the halls, visitors can see glass windows, Western-style wallpaper, electric lighting including chandeliers, floor carpeting, and traces of radiators. The spaces also house dedicated artworks and functional rooms:
- Huijeongdang: VIP restroom, along with copies of Haegang Kim Gyu-jin’s Geumgangsan landscape paintings, Chongseokjeongjeolgyeongdo (총석정절경도) and Geumgangsan Manmulchoseunggyeongdo (금강산만물초승경도).
- Daejojeon: Bonghwangdo (봉황도) by Oh Il-yeong and Lee Yong-woo, a facsimile of Baekhakdo (백학도) by Kim Eun-ho, and an interior barbershop space presumed to have been built for King Sunjong’s grooming.
Dates and tour sessions
The program operates Tuesday through Saturday from October 20, 2026, to October 31, 2026. The final date, October 31, is reserved for an invitation event, meaning general public viewing runs through October 30, 2026.
- Session 1: 10:00 to 11:10
- Session 2: 14:30 to 15:40
- Duration: Around 70 minutes per session
- Capacity and eligibility: 24 participants per session, open only to adults aged 19 and older
For general palace visits in October, Changdeokgung is open from 09:00 to 18:00, with admission closing at 17:00. The palace is closed every Monday; if Monday is a public holiday or substitute holiday, the palace opens, and the first subsequent non-holiday weekday becomes the regular closed day.
Admission and booking
Participation in the special interior tour is free, but all participants must enter an online lottery. On-site registration and group bookings are not accepted.
- Lottery application window: October 13, 2026, 10:00 to October 16, 2026, 10:00
- Application platform: Palace and Tombs Headquarters (궁능유적본부) Changdeokgung Management Office website
- Winner announcement: After 10:00 on October 16, 2026, via individual Alimtalk and text message
All visitors must separately purchase general Changdeokgung palace grounds admission:
| Visitor Category | Admission Fee |
|---|---|
| Foreign adults (aged 19 to 64) | KRW 3,000 |
| Korean adults (aged 25 to 64, individual) | KRW 3,000 |
| Korean adults (group of 10 or more) | KRW 2,400 |
| Korean citizens aged 24 and under, or 65 and older (with ID) | Free |
| Visitors wearing hanbok, visitors with disabilities, national merit recipients | Free |
To receive free admission to the palace grounds, eligible individuals must present valid identification or supporting documents on site.
How to join the tour on the day
- Go to the Changdeokgung Visit Support Center information desk during your session’s assigned window (9:30–9:50 for Session 1, or 14:00–14:20 for Session 2).
- Present your winner notification message and photo ID to receive your name badge and brochure.
- Separately purchase your Changdeokgung palace grounds admission ticket.
- Assemble in front of the World Heritage Monument inside Geumhomun (금호문) Gate, where the guided tour begins.
How to get to Changdeokgung
The address of Changdeokgung is 99 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Palace phone: 02-3668-2300. There are no parking facilities inside the palace grounds, so public transit must be used.
- Subway: Line 3 Anguk Station (안국역), Exit 3 (5-minute walk); or Lines 1, 3, and 5 Jongno 3-ga Station (종로3가역), Exit 7 (10-minute walk).
- Bus: Get off at Seoul Donhwamun Traditional Theater (서울돈화문국악당) bus stop (Blue buses 109, 151, 162, 171, 172, 272, 710; Green bus 7025).
What to know before you go
- Due to the nature of the interior facilities, wheelchairs and strollers cannot enter.
- Food and drinks, including beverages, are not allowed inside.
- Transferring a winning reservation is allowed only between family members who bring an official family relation certificate.
Questions visitors ask
Who is eligible to participate in the interior special tour?
The tour is open only to adults aged 19 and older, with a limit of 24 participants per session.
How do I apply for the Changdeokgung interior tour?
You must apply online via the Palace and Tombs Headquarters Changdeokgung Management Office website during the lottery entry window from October 13, 2026, 10:00 to October 16, 2026, 10:00. On-site applications and group bookings are not accepted.
Is the special tour free?
The interior tour program itself is free, but you must separately purchase a Changdeokgung palace grounds admission ticket, which costs KRW 3,000 for foreign adults aged 19 to 64.
Can I bring a stroller or wheelchair inside the buildings?
No. Due to the nature of the interior facilities, wheelchairs and strollers cannot enter.
Also in Seoul
Other guides open around the same dates, or without set dates.
Seoul Sculpture Festival 2026Yeollin Songhyeon Green Plaza (열린송현녹지광장)
✓ Checked Oct 27 against the official source
English names on this page are plain renderings of the Korean names unless the official source uses an English name; the Korean name is shown so you can search for it or show it to someone.
This page is the English edition of the Korean guide and states only what that guide confirmed against the official source. Details can change; check the official site before you go. English edition written Oct 26, 2026.