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| yna@yna.co.kr 2026-01-22 09:45:01
SEOUL, Jan. 22 (Yonhap) -- Major palaces, Jongmyo Shrine and royal tombs across the country will be open to the public free of charge during the Lunar New Year holiday, one of Korea’s biggest traditional holidays.
According to the Korea Heritage Service on Thursday, the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center will offer free admission to the four main royal palaces — Gyeongbok Palace, Deoksu Palace, Changdeok Palace and Changgyeong Palace — as well as Jongmyo Shrine and the Joseon Dynasty royal tombs for five days from Feb. 14 to 18.
Jongmyo Shrine, which normally operates on a reservation-only basis, will be open to visitors without prior booking during the holiday period.
However, tours of the Secret Garden at Changdeok Palace will continue to require paid admission, as usual. Chilgung Shrine, which has been operating on a reservation-only basis since February, will also allow limited access.
The four palaces, Jongmyo Shrine and the Joseon royal tombs will be closed entirely on Feb. 19, after the holiday period ends.
“The sites will be opened during the Lunar New Year holiday and admission will be free to enhance public participation and expand cultural access,” the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center said.
The center has traditionally offered free admission to palaces and royal tombs during major holidays such as the Lunar New Year and Chuseok.
Amid growing global interest in Korean traditional culture driven by the popularity of K-culture, the number of visitors to palaces and royal tombs has continued to rise.
According to the center, a total of 17,814,848 people visited the four main palaces, Jongmyo Shrine and the Joseon royal tombs in 2025, marking an all-time high. It was the first time annual visitors surpassed 17 million.
Of the total, 4,269,278 were foreign visitors, up 34.4 percent from 3,177,150 in 2024, the center said.
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