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

Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식)

6.8Km    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.

Modern Shabu House Gwanghwamun D Tower Branch (모던샤브하우스 광화문D타워점)

6.8Km    2025-12-02

17 Jong-ro 3-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Located in Jongno-gu, Modern Shabu House Gwanghwamun D Tower Branch offers a selection of specialty broths to enjoy unlimited beef, pork, and vegetables. The restaurant serves four cuts of pork and beef in every course. The interior is designed with natural materials like earth, stone, and wood, inspired by the fluid process of cooking ingredients like meat and vegetables in a pot. The design reflects the natural movement and flow of ingredients as they cook together. The restaurant also has a range of private rooms, making it a popular choice for families with children and for gatherings, providing a comfortable dining experience.

Aromind (아로마인드)

6.8Km    2024-01-30

19-7 Bukchon-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Aromind is a perfume workshop that offers a perfume-making experience with a professional perfumer in a quiet hanok building. Visitors can create their own one-of-a-kind perfume by choosing three out of 30 different scent options that change on a seasonal basis. A perfume one-day class is held for one to eight people for one to one and a half hours. The fee for the experience includes a 50 ml product and a 10 ml sample. They also offer the class in Korean with English interpretation when there non-Korean speaking participants. Aromind is the perfect place to create your own scent to associate your memory of Korea.

Gilsang Ceramics (길상도예)

6.8Km    2025-11-05

15-9 Gangnam-daero 39-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul

The pottery workshop experienced by BTS
It is a famous pottery workshop for ARMY as a place where BTS experienced in ‘RUN BTS’. Jimin made cups for V, Jin for Jung kook, and V for SUGA. You can design and make cups, vases, plates, water bottles, etc. with a potter's wheel and handbuilding. It's also fun to make it after the works of BTS members. 

Jeongdong Observatory (정동전망대)

6.8Km    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.

Hanji House (한지가헌)

6.8Km    2025-07-25

31-9 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Hanji House was founded to pass on the cultural heritage of hanji, traditional Korean paper, as well as to promote its excellence and uses in everyday life. The center is operated by Korea Craft & Design Foundation, and offers a variety of programs that consist of exhibitions, hands-on activities, classes, and marketing hanji products. On the first floor is Hanji Showroom, where various exhibitions take place to showcase hanji of the past and the present. The basement floor comprises Hanji Open Archive, Hanji Print Studio, and Hanji Workroom, where most of the hands-on activities and classes are held. Hanji House also offers a docent program for exploring the whole area.

Jinju Hoegwan (진주회관)

6.8Km    2024-06-19

26 Sejong-daero 11-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-753-5388

Jinju Hoegwan is a renowned kongguksu (noodles in cold soybean soup) eatery near City Hall Station. Kongguksu is a traditional Korean summer dish made by boiling and grinding soybeans into a creamy broth, served with noodles, offering a refreshing and nutty flavor. Kongguksu is available from March to November. Their staff-recommended menu includes kimchi bokkeumbap (kimchi fried rice), freshly roasted by the staff, along with kimchi jjigae and samgyeopsal (pork belly).

Inwoohouse [Korea Quality] / 인우하우스 [한국관광 품질인증]

6.9Km    2023-09-12

1-9 , Gyedong 6-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-742-1115

Inwoo House is a traditional hanok down an alley in Gye-dong, Jongno, Seoul. There is a swallow's nest under the eaves, and the pride of this house is that the swallow family returns every spring. Each room in the house has a private bathroom. Residents can sample Korean culture by taking part in traditional paper crafts, knot bracelet making, and fan decorating. The location is convenient for restaurants, cafes, and convenience stores, and Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Insadong, and Samcheong-dong are all within walking distance.

Ilmin Art Museum (일민미술관)

6.9Km    2022-09-27

152, Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul

The Ilmin Art Museum located in former Dong-A Newspaper Building, was formed in honor of their honorable and late CEO Kim Sang-man. The museum was established in December of 1996, and with a full renovation in 2001, large exhibition hall and Ilmin collection was placed in. Through the renovation, the combination of glass and steel made Artrium aimed to become one of the best comtemporary museum, connecting the museum to the streets of Gwanghwamun. 

 This museum boasts a large Ilmin collection. There are 430 pieces of Ilmin collection from Goryeo dynasty (918-1392) to present, 1,200 pieces in the Donga Newspaper's collection of art, and 100 pieces of art owned by Hyundai Corporation. The Ilmin Collection mostly consists of pieces that Kim Sang-man collected from ceramics to aesthetic paintings. The Dongah Newspaper's collection has time-relevant pieces that are important in history.

Re-Heater(리히터)

6.9Km    2025-05-21

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