Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식)

7.9Km 2025-07-11

99, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-2-737-6444

Deoksugung Palace has held a guard changing ceremony since 1996 after thorough historical research by leading historians. The ceremony, which is held in front of Daehanmun Gate of Deoksugung Palace, is a tradition similar to the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace and offers a rare opportunity to experience royal culture. The royal gate is opened and closed at pre-determined times, and the gatekeepers in charge of guard duty and patrols hold a shift ceremony three times a day.

The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is a highly recommended event for tourists. It is held three times a day, with each ceremony following the same procedure and lasts for forty minutes to an hour, and the ceremony is free of charge. There are no ceremonies on Mondays as well as on severely cold or hot days.

As the ceremony begins, the changing of the guards commences replete with traditional musical instruments, and exchanges a password for verification. An eight-minute guard ceremony ensues, followed by a seven-minute change ceremony, and finally a patrol that completes the ceremony. The procedure takes a dramatic turn when 18 guards in six official positions beat a drum and bellow some orders.

The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is a great opportunity to experience a rare traditional scene. The guards’ splendid costumes, with their brilliant primary colors, are a pleasure to view. Once the ceremony is over, visitors can take pictures with the gatekeepers.

Seoul Street Art Festival (서울거리예술축제)

7.9Km 2024-07-26

Taepyeongno 1(il)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-758-2036

Seoul Street Art Festival is held throughout Seoul and introduces high quality street performances.

Seoul Metropolitan Library (서울도서관)

7.9Km 2022-12-14

110, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2133-0300

Seoul Library provides access to a wide range of documents and materials about Seoul Metropolitan City. Visitors will find diverse resources related to the city including history, culture, urban planning, transportation, environmental issues, administration, reports on outbound visitors, research documents, video clips, and e-data.

Aank Hotel & Spa Jongno Unni Branch (아늑호텔 앤 스파 종로운니점)

7.9Km 2025-04-24

89 Donhwamun-ro 11ga-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Aank Hotel & Spa Jongno Unni Branch embodies the warmth and charms of Korea. Guests are welcome to unwind with diverse room options to choose from such as the msuic room, signature spa room, desktop 2-PC room, and standard room. It's location in the heart of Seoul makes it a great place for tourists as well as well.

Well [Tax Refund Shop] (웰빙할인마트)

7.9Km 2024-04-22

57, Dongmak-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul

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Chamsutgol (참숯골)

7.9Km 2019-08-01

16, Mugyo-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-774-2100

Located in Mugyo-dong in Jung-gu, Seoul, Chamsutgol (참숯골) is an upscale restaurant serving hanu beef dishes. The restaurant uses only top quality hanu beef from young cattle (two years old or younger) raised on farms in Jeolla-do Province. For freshness and tenderness, the restaurant serves only fresh meat (not frozen) of A+ grade or higher. To bring out its juiciness and tenderness, the meat is grilled on a charcoal fire.

The elegant ambience and décor and the variety of rooms in different sizes make the restaurant a favorite choice for special events. It is also regularly visited by international tourists. Popular dishes are the sirloin steak and marinated ribs, doengjang soup, and yeongyang dolsotbap (rice served in a hot stone bowl).

PungGyeong [Korea Quality] / 풍경 [한국관광 품질인증]

7.9Km 2023-05-02

32-6 , Seonggyungwan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-10-7103-6993

PungGyeong, located opposite Sungkyunkwan Academy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is a hanok-style guest house whose outer wall is painted with a stylish blue pine tree. The guest house is equipped with bedrooms and a kitchen/diner with a table. Residents can have toast for breakfast, and simple Korean meals are provided for guests staying more than two days. In the winter you can sample traditional Korean tea brewed by the owner.

Insadong Cultural Street (인사동 문화의 거리)

7.9Km 2023-12-26

Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul Metropolitan City

Insadong Cultural Street is a popular tourist destination for visitors from all around the world, thanks to its numerous art galleries, restaurants serving Korean table d’hote, traditional teahouses, and street vendors lining the streets. Its most recognizable feature is the use of Hangeul (Korean script) in storefronts, which allows the visitors to really see just what makes this place so special. Unlike the nearby Ikseon-dong Hanok Street, Insadong Cultural Street has larger streets with wider stores, so it is much easier to traverse. On evenings and weekends, one can find buskers performing on the side of the road.

Tutorial (튜토리얼)

7.9Km 2024-10-18

39-15, Wausan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Singer Zion.T
The tutorial run by singer Zion.T and his father gives a comfortable first impression with white interior and spacious seats. The signature menu, 'Crumpled Paper Cake', is topped with non-smooth white icing and, as the name suggests, looks like crumpled paper. Chocolate sauce is provided here, so customers can write their own pictures or letters. Even if you're not good at it, you can make your own cake, so it's really fun. His dog ‘Haemeogi’ resting in the store as if indifferent is another specialty.

Jeongdong Observatory (정동전망대)

7.9Km 2022-08-11

15, Deoksugung-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-120

Jeongdong Observatory is located on the 13th floor of Seoul City Hall Seosomun building. The observatory has a cafe inside where visitors can enjoy a drink while gazing upon the magnificent view of Deoksugung Palace from above. In addition, the walls of the cafe are decorated with photos of old Jeongdong.

Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식) - Area information - Korea travel information