What the Gyeongbokgung Janggo special opening is
The Janggo (장고) at Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) in Jongno-gu (종로구), Seoul, is a storage area historically used for fermenting and storing palace sauces, pastes (jang), and pickled foods (jangajji). Normally closed to the public, the area opens during the Recreation and Experience of Daily Palace Life (궁궐 일상모습 재현 및 체험) event from November 4 to November 8, 2026.
During the opening, visitors can see displays of earthenware jar platforms (jangdokdae), food-culture exhibitions, photo zones, and an interactive drama recreating palace life. General visitors to Gyeongbokgung Palace can enter the Janggo area during operating hours without advance registration.
Palace viewing hours and admission
The Janggo exhibits are accessible during regular November palace visiting hours. Palace staff begin ushering visitors toward exits 30 minutes before closing, so entry must be completed by 4:00 p.m.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| November viewing hours | 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (admission closes at 4:00 p.m.) |
| Regular palace closure | Every Tuesday (if a Tuesday falls on a public or alternative holiday, the palace opens and closes on the first following non-holiday) |
| Adult admission (ages 25–64) | KRW 3,000 (KRW 2,400 per person for groups of 10 or more) |
| Free admission | Ages 24 and under, ages 65 and older, visitors wearing hanbok, registered persons with disabilities plus one caregiver for severe disabilities, and national merit recipients and their spouse |
| Local resident discount | 50% discount with proof of residency in Jongno-gu |
Master Ki Soon-do jang-making workshop
The hands-on sauce-making workshop led by Master Ki Soon-do (기순도 명인) is a separate, paid program. It does not accept on-site registrations and requires advance reservation.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Program dates | November 6–November 8, 2026 |
| Daily sessions | 4 times daily (10:00 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:20 p.m.) |
| Participation fee | KRW 50,000 per team (team of 2 people) |
| Booking start time | October 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. |
| Booking platform | Ticketlink (티켓링크) (first-come, first-served) |
| Aging and pickup | Aged in the Janggo for 4 months; pickup scheduled for March 5–7, 2027, following paste-separating (jang-gareugi) |
Sauces made during the workshop are aged inside the Janggo for four months. Participants must return to the Janggo during the scheduled pickup window in March 2027 to collect their finished sauce.
How to get to Gyeongbokgung Palace
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울 종로구 사직로 161) |
| Subway | Line 3 Gyeongbokgung Station (경복궁역) Exit 5 (2-minute walk); Line 3 Anguk Station (안국역) Exit 1 (6-minute walk); Line 5 Gwanghwamun Station (광화문역) Exit 2 (6-minute walk) |
| Parking lot location | Left side of the entrance heading toward Samcheong-dong (삼청동) from Gwanghwamun (광화문) |
| Parking operating hours | 6:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. |
| Parking capacity | Ground level: 50 buses; Underground: 240 passenger cars |
| Parking fees | First hour: small cars KRW 3,000 / medium and large vehicles KRW 5,000 (KRW 800 per additional 10 minutes; free if leaving within 10 minutes) |
Questions visitors ask
Do I need a reservation to see the Janggo exhibits?
No advance reservation is needed to view the Janggo area, exhibitions, photo zones, or interactive palace drama. Any visitor who enters Gyeongbokgung Palace can walk in during opening hours.
Is there an extra fee to enter the Janggo area?
The exhibitions and on-site programs inside the Janggo area are free once you enter Gyeongbokgung Palace. You only need to pay regular palace admission (KRW 3,000 for adults aged 25 to 64, or free for those eligible).
How can I join the jang-making workshop?
The workshop with Master Ki Soon-do requires an advance reservation through Ticketlink (티켓링크), which opened on October 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis for KRW 50,000 per two-person team. No on-site registration is available.
Which subway exit is closest to Gyeongbokgung Palace?
The closest subway exit is Exit 5 of Gyeongbokgung Station (경복궁역) on Line 3, which is a 2-minute walk away.
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✓ 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.