Four Major Palaces and Jongmyo Shrine to Open Wide for Five Days During Seollal Holiday... Will Record Crowds Gather?

National Heritage Administration to Offer Free Admission from February 14 to 18
Jongmyo Shrine, Usually Reservation-Only, Open for Unrestricted Visits
Record-Breaking 17.81 Million Visitors Last Year

On the 18th, when the latest-ever heavy snow warning was issued in Seoul, Gyeongbokgung Palace in Jongno-gu, Seoul was covered in snow. 2025.3.18 Photo by Jo Yongjun

In celebration of Seollal, the most significant traditional holiday in Korea, the main palaces and royal tombs of the Joseon Dynasty, including Gyeongbokgung Palace, will open their doors to the public. With the recent surge in interest in "K-Heritage," which has led to record-breaking numbers of visitors to the palaces, a large crowd is expected to gather.

The Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the National Heritage Administration announced on January 22 that the four major palaces (Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, Changdeokgung, and Changgyeonggung), Jongmyo Shrine, and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty will offer free admission during the five-day Seollal holiday period, from February 14 to 18. Jongmyo Shrine, which typically requires advance reservations for timed entry, will also be open for free and unrestricted visits, providing a rare opportunity to leisurely experience the atmosphere of the ancestral ritual space.

However, the Secret Garden (Huwon) at Changdeokgung Palace, which is operated with limited access to protect cultural heritage, will continue to require paid admission as usual. In addition, Chilgeung, which will transition to an advance reservation system starting next month, will also have some restrictions on visits. While the palaces and tombs will remain open throughout the holiday, all four palaces, Jongmyo Shrine, and the royal tombs will be closed for a break on February 19, the day after the holiday ends.

The free admission initiative aims to enhance public access to cultural experiences and to offer the palaces as open spaces where visitors can enjoy the festive atmosphere of the holiday. With the recent spread of K-culture and a surge of interest in traditional Korean culture, the palaces and royal tombs have established themselves as must-visit attractions for both domestic and international tourists.

Yonhap News Agency

According to data compiled by the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, the four major palaces, Jongmyo Shrine, and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty attracted a total of 17,814,848 visitors in 2025. For the first time ever, the annual number of visitors exceeded 17 million. In particular, the number of foreign visitors reached 4,269,278, marking a remarkable 34.4% increase from the previous year and demonstrating explosive growth.

An official from the National Heritage Administration stated, "We hope that free admission during the Seollal holiday will allow more citizens and foreign tourists to appreciate the value of our cultural heritage," adding, "We will continue to create an environment where visitor convenience and the preservation of cultural heritage are harmoniously balanced."