Period
01.01.2009 ~ 12.31.2009
Address
Seoul-si Jongno-gu Sajik-ro 22
Location
Gwanghwamun (the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace) and Heungnyemun (the first gate inside the palace walls at the front) Plaza at Gyeongbokgung Palace
Telephone
- Korea Travel Phone +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
- For more info +82-2-566-6300 (Korean)
Sponsors / Management
Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation /
Introduction
Every day visitors to Gyeongbokgung palace can watch a reenactment of the “Changing of the Royal Guards” ceremony, which takes place at the Gwanghwamun and Heungnyemun plazas. The royal guards of the Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910) were in charge of protecting the gates of the capital city and the royal palace. The royal palace guards, who were known as the ‘Wanggung Sumunjang’, had the very important duty of protecting the king. They were in charge of opening and closing the palace gates, inspecting all visitors, and maintaining a close surveillance of the palace. They were divided into day and night shifts, and this ceremony used to take place whenever the shifts changed over.The ceremony is reenacted exactly as it used to be held, with guards wearing the Joseon uniforms, carrying traditional weapons and playing instruments. The ceremony takes place every hour on the hour from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Visitors can also try on the historic uniforms of the royal guards and take photographs in front of Gyeonghoeru, thought to be the most beautiful pavilion in Gyeongbokgung palace.
Performance Times :
10:00 ~ 16:00 (every hour on the hour from 10:00 to 15:00, at 16:00 the royal guards depart) * Closed on Tuesdays
Program Details :
- 10:00 ~ 16:00 : The ceremony of the changing of the royal guards
- 11:30 ~ 12:00 : A cabinet conference
- 14:00 ~ 14:30 : The royal family's official tour
- the opening and closing ceremonies of the royal palace gates do not take place.
- 10:00 ~ 16:00 : The ceremony of the changing of the royal guards
*
- Participating venues
- Dressing up in a traditional guard’s costume and taking photos
- Brass rubbing of the traditional equipment of the royal guards
Transportation
* Take subway line 3 to Gyeongbokgung palace station, exit #5 and walk round to your left until you find an entrance to the palace on your right.
* You may also take subway line 5 to Gwanghwamun station exit #2 and walk straight. Take the underpass under the main road and then walk round to the right until you get to an entrance to the palace.
Homepage
http://www.fpcp.or.kr/fpcp/event_new/contents.html?seqno=3&dNum=1&tNum=3 (Korean, English)
