Updated October 29, 2026
Free palace entry in hanbok
If you wear a hanbok, Gyeongbokgung and the other royal palaces in Seoul let you in without buying a ticket. Here is how it works now, and what may change in 2027.
The rule today
Visitors wearing hanbok get free admission to the royal palaces managed by the Korea Heritage Service. You don't need a ticket or a stamp. You walk up to the gate in your hanbok and go in.
The same free-entry list also covers foreign visitors aged 18 and under and everyone aged 65 and over, so many families pay nothing at all.
Under review. The Royal Palaces and Tombs Center said it would review hanbok free entry in October 2026, as part of a wider plan to raise palace fees. On October 8, 2026, documents sent to the National Assembly listed the timing of the new fees as "undecided". As of today, free entry for hanbok wearers still applies.
Ticket prices if you're not in hanbok
| Gyeongbokgung | ₩3,000 |
|---|---|
| Changdeokgung (palace only) | ₩3,000 |
| Changdeokgung Secret Garden tour | ₩5,000 extra |
| Changgyeonggung | ₩1,000 |
| Deoksugung | ₩1,000 |
| Jongmyo Shrine | ₩1,000 |
| Integrated palace pass | ₩6,000 |
Adult fees, unchanged since 2005. One option discussed in 2026 would raise palaces and Jongmyo to ₩5,000. Nothing has been adopted.
The tickets are cheap, so free entry isn't really about the money. It's the reason the palace courtyards are full of people in hanbok, which is what makes the photos.
Closing days
| Gyeongbokgung | closed Tuesday |
|---|---|
| Changdeokgung | closed Monday |
| Changgyeonggung | closed Monday |
| Deoksugung | closed Monday |
| Jongmyo Shrine | closed Tuesday |
Gyeongbokgung's hours change with the season. Guides list 09:00 to 17:00 in winter and 09:00 to 18:00 or 18:30 the rest of the year, with last entry one hour before closing. Plan your rental so you finish inside the palace, not at the gate.
Jongmyo is mostly visited on a guided tour. Changdeokgung's Secret Garden also runs on timed tours with its own ticket, and hanbok doesn't cover that part.
Does any hanbok count?
A rental hanbok from a shop near the palace counts. Staff at the gate decide what qualifies, so a hanbok-style top with jeans may not get you in. If you're unsure about a modern or fusion design, ask the shop. They see the gate every day.
Questions
Is hanbok free entry ending in 2027?
Not decided. The heritage office is reviewing hanbok free entry together with a palace fee increase, but as of October 29, 2026 no change has been announced and the start date of any new fees is listed as undecided.
Does free entry in hanbok include the Secret Garden?
No. The Changdeokgung Secret Garden tour needs its own ticket (₩5,000 for adults) even if you're wearing hanbok.
Which palace should I visit on a Tuesday?
Gyeongbokgung and Jongmyo are closed on Tuesdays. Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung are open, and there are rental shops near Changdeokgung.
Booking a slot near the palace you want?
Compare hanbok rentalsSources: Royal Palaces and Tombs Center fee page as reported by Namane Card (October 2026), Korea Times, and visitor guides. Always check royal.khs.go.kr before your visit.