Chilgung Tours Restricted as Blue House Reopens... Reservation System to Begin in February

Aerial view of Yuksanggung and Yeonhogung Palaces. Provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration, Bureau of Palaces and Royal Tombs.

The Cultural Heritage Administration, Bureau of Palaces and Royal Tombs, announced on January 7 that starting February 1, tours of the Chilgung (Seven Palaces) within the Cheong Wa Dae area will be fully switched to a reservation-only system (restricted access).

This change comes as key facilities, including the presidential office, are returning to Cheong Wa Dae after approximately three years and six months, in order to strengthen security and ensure the safety of visitors. Accordingly, the previous system of free access will be discontinued. Going forward, visitors will only be able to tour Chilgung when accompanied by a guide and a safety manager.

Tours will be conducted five times a day at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m., with each session lasting about 40 minutes. The number of participants is limited to 30 per session, with a maximum of 150 people per day.

Reservations can be made through the integrated reservation website of the Bureau of Palaces and Royal Tombs. Reservations are available from 10 a.m. seven days prior to the desired date until 30 minutes before each session begins. Cancellations or changes must be made by 11 p.m. on the day before the tour.

Chilgung is a shrine housing the spirit tablets of seven royal concubines who bore kings of the Joseon Dynasty but did not become queens. After the 'Kim Shin-jo Incident' in 1968, access was restricted, but partial opening began in November 2001. In May 2022, it was fully opened following the relocation of the presidential office to Yongsan, but with the recent return, access has once again become restricted.

Currently, there are seven palaces, including Yuksanggung, which enshrines Lady Choi, the birth mother of King Yeongjo.