Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식)

14.1Km 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 Papyrus [Tax Refund Shop] (서울파피루스)

14.1Km 2024-04-19

136, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul

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Bukhansan National Park (Seoul District) (북한산국립공원(서울))

14.1Km 2024-11-27

262 Bogungmun-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul
+82-2-909-0497

Bukhansan Mountain was officially designated as a national park in 1983. Bukhansan National Park covers both Bukhansan and Dobongsan Mountains, and spans a total area of 80.699 ㎢. At the top of Bukhansan Mountain are Baegundae Terrace (835.6 m), Insubong Peak (810.5 m) and Mangyeongdae Terrace (799.5 m), which gave the mountain the nickname "Samgaksan" or the "three-horned mountain." The mountain had other names: Sambongsan (mountain with three peaks), Hwasan (flower mountain), and Buaak (mountain shaped like a person giving a baby a piggyback ride). The current name, Bukhansan, was given after the Bukhansanseong Fortress was built under King Sukjong of the Joseon dynasty.

Kim Koo Museum & Library (백범김구기념관)

14.1Km 2022-08-30

26, Imjeong-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
+82-2-799-3400

Kim Koo Museum & Library was built in Yongsan-gu, Seoul to commemorate Baekbeom Kim Koo (1876-1949), a highly respected Korean independence activist. It opened on October 22, 2002 to commemorate Kim Koo's efforts and achievements in Korean history. The main hall is comprised of two floors, exhibiting relics related to his entire life. A statue of a seated Kim Koo is situated in the central space of the first hall.

Mijin (미진)

14.1Km 2024-03-06

19 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-732-1954

Mijin is a Korean-style cold buckwheat noodle restaurant located near Gwanghwamun, specializing in Korean-style naeng memilguksu (cold buckwheat noodles). They offer a broth that is richer in flavor compared to Japanese soba bonito soy sauce, along with chewier buckwheat noodles. The restaurant produces the broth and noodles in-house and serves them directly to customers. The cold broth and buckwheat noodles condiments can be adjusted according to preference. Another popular menu is the memil jeonbyeong (buckwheat crepe) filled with bean sprouts, bean curd, aged kimchi, and ground pork.

Gahoe Museum (가회민화박물관)

14.1Km 2025-10-31

52 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-741-0466

Opened in 2002, Gahoe Museum exhibits folk paintings and amulets reflecting the lifestyle and wishes of the Korean people from ancient times. Inside the Hanok gallery, visitors can immerse themselves in the traditions of Korea, including old paintings depicting people's lifestyle in the past and religious beliefs, and roof tiles in the shape of humans or goblins. Visitors will also find folding screens and religious objects used in the past that show skills and knowledge of Korean ancestors.

Aromind (아로마인드)

14.1Km 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.

Hanji House (한지가헌)

14.1Km 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.

Gocheok Sky Dome (고척 스카이돔)

14.1Km 2023-09-05

430 , Gyeongin-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul

Gocheok Sky Some is the first dome-type baseball stadium to be built in Korea. Since its establishment in 2015, the stadium has been used as a venue for diverse events, including baseball games, athletic sports, performances, concerts, and more. The stadium consists of two basement floors and four above-ground floors with 16,783 seats. Gocheok Sky Dome serves as a cultural facility for the public that can host events regardless of season and weather. A baseball-themed street is connected to the dome for baseball fans. Several other sports-related facilities and retailers are also available.

Olive Young - Jongno 1(il)-ga Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (올리브영 종로1가)

14.1Km 2024-04-16

19, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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