Gyeongbokgung Starlit Night Walk
🗓️ 2026.09.02 ~ 2026.10.24
The Gyeongbokgung Palace Starlight Tour is a nighttime program that opens the northern area of Gyeongbokgung Palace for guided exploration, royal cuisine, and traditional culture. With a professional guide, visitors move through the palace and learn about the daily life of the Joseon Dynasty royal family and the historical stories connected to Gyeongbokgung Palace.
1. Dosluk Surasang Experience
At Oesojubang, the palace kitchen, participants are served a 12-dish table in a dosluk (lunch box) format. The meal is a modern reinterpretation of the Joseon Dynasty royal surasang, offering a contemporary way to experience the royal court’s food culture.
2. Gyeongbokgung Palace Night Tour
The guided route takes visitors through Gyejodang, Oesojubang, Jagyeongjeon, Jibokjae and Palujeong, Geoncheonggung, and Hyangwonjeong. The 2026 edition includes a special Changgeuk (traditional Korean opera) featuring the story of the King, performed at Jibokjae, King Gojong’s library, where the history of the space and the performance come together for a unique experience. Afterward, visitors can see starlight reflected in Hyangwonji Pond and experience the serene landscape of Gyeongbokgung Palace at night, a mood distinct from a daytime visit. The program brings together royal cuisine, historical spaces, night views, and traditional culture in a single evening.
- Tour Route: Gyejodang → Oesojubang → Jagyeongjeon → Jibokjae & Palujeong → Geoncheonggung → Hyangwonjeong
※ The route may change depending on the situation.
📍 Address: 161 Sajik-ro (Sejong-ro), Jongno-gu, Seoul
🛏️ Accommodations near the event
💰 Fee: Paid (60,000 KRW per person)
📞 Inquiry: 1522-2295
⭐️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k.heritage.agency/
🖥️ Homepage: https://www.kh.or.kr/short/g6cX
Gyeongbokgung Palace is the largest of the Five Grand Palaces built during the Joseon Dynasty. The name is usually translated as “Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven.” It was constructed in 1395 by King Taejo, the dynasty’s founder, and served as the main royal residence and seat of government for several centuries. The complex stands at the northern end of Seoul, below Bugaksan Mountain, and its layout follows traditional Korean architectural principles that relate the major buildings to the surrounding landscape.
The palace includes several structures of historical note. Geunjeongjeon was the main throne hall, used for formal audiences and state ceremonies. Gyeonghoeru, a pavilion on an artificial lake, hosted royal banquets and receptions. Hyangwonjeong, a two-story pavilion in the palace grounds, was used for private relaxation and later became a favored royal retreat. The palace also contained extensive administrative quarters, living spaces for the royal family, and gardens.
Gyeongbokgung sustained severe damage during the Japanese invasions of the late 16th century and remained largely in ruins for over two hundred years. It was rebuilt in the 19th century, then damaged again during the 20th century and gradually reconstructed. Today the palace is open to the public as a historic site. Visitors can tour the restored halls, walk through the courtyards and gardens, and observe the surviving architectural details, including the stone-paved courtways, painted eaves, and tiered gate roofs.
