Korea Heritage Service to hold 'Dongwol Dongnak' in November

Palace night tour runs Nov. 10–Nov. 15

Guided by Joseon-era court painter interpreters

Online lottery applications open Thursday

A scene from the "Dongwol Dongnak" event [Cultural Heritage Administration]
A scene from the "Dongwol Dongnak" event [Cultural Heritage Administration]

A nighttime tour program connecting the grounds of Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung palaces is set to launch next month, offering visitors a chance to experience the two historic sites after dark. To ease competition for tickets and ensure fairer access, organizers are introducing a lottery system for the first time this year.

The Palace and Royal Tomb Management Office under the Cultural Heritage Administration will co-host "Dongwol Dongnak" with the Korea Heritage Service from Nov. 10 to Nov. 15. During the event period, Changgyeonggung's regular nighttime admission will be suspended, with the palace open only during daytime hours.

"Dongwol Dongnak" is a nighttime exploration program covering both Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung, combining guided commentary, theatrical performances and free-roaming time in the rear gardens.

Participants follow a guide dressed as a Joseon-era court painter from the royal painting bureau through the palace halls of Changgyeonggung and the rear garden of Changdeokgung. At four locations — Myeongjeongjeon, Tongmyeongjeon, Uiduhap and Daechundangji — small performances depicting historical anecdotes are staged. The route begins at Changgyeonggung's Honghwamun gate, passes through Tongmyeongjeon and Changdeokgung's Buyongji pond, and returns to Honghwamun.

During free-roaming time, visitors may pass through Yeongchunmun — a gate not normally open to the public — to move between the rear gardens of both palaces. Traditional Korean music performances at Yeonghwadang and a reenactment of royal daily life are also on offer, and refreshments and a tumbler are provided.

Poster for the "Dongwol Dongnak" event [Cultural Heritage Administration]
Poster for the "Dongwol Dongnak" event [Cultural Heritage Administration]

The program runs 110 minutes per session, with four sessions daily starting every 30 minutes from 6 p.m. Lottery applications open Thursday at 2 p.m. through Ticketlink. Those aged 65 and older, people with disabilities, and holders of a national merit registration card may also book by phone starting Nov. 5. The participation fee is 40,000 won ($30) per person, with a maximum of two tickets per application.

The Palace and Royal Tomb Management Office and the Korea Heritage Service said they hope "Dongwol Dongnak" will give visitors a rich experience of the "Dongwol" — Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung — and their historical and cultural significance, adding that they will continue working to expand access to palace cultural heritage for both Korean and international visitors.


terry@heraldcorp.com