Seoul’s four royal palaces and Jongmyo Shrine are offering free admission to all visitors from February 14th through February 18th to celebrate Seollal, the Lunar Novel Year, according to an announcement from the Cultural Heritage Administration.
Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Joseon Dynasty’s main palace, will distribute “Sehwa” – New Year’s blessing paintings – on a first-come, first-served basis at Heungnyemun Square. Changdeokgung Palace, known for its integration of architecture and natural landscape, will too be freely accessible, though the Secret Garden (Huwon) remains excluded from the free access period.
Deoksugung Palace, which uniquely blends traditional and modern architectural styles, provides a convenient option for visitors near City Hall Station. The newly opened Seoul Gallery, located within Seoul City Hall, offers a complementary cultural experience for those visiting Deoksugung. Changgyeonggung Palace, celebrated for its tranquil atmosphere, invites visitors to explore Chundangji Pond and enjoy the holiday ambiance.
Jongmyo Shrine, a Confucian royal ancestral shrine and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995, typically operates on a timed reservation system. However, during the Lunar New Year holiday, visitors can enter without a prior booking – a rare exception. Jongmyo was originally constructed in 1394 when King Taejo moved the capital to Hanseong, the present-day Seoul. The shrine serves as a memorial to deceased kings and queens and preserves traditions dating back to the 14th century, according to UNESCO.
The Cultural Heritage Administration advises that Lunar New Year’s Day may be particularly crowded and recommends arriving early to avoid congestion. Yulgok-ro, which previously separated Jongmyo from Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung Palaces, was converted into a tunnel in 2019, restoring the connection between the sites.
