Renewal:2016-02-03 14:54:24

Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard-Changing Ceremony 덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식

  • • 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330
    (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
    • For more info: +82-2-771-9951,
    +82-2-771-9955
  • www.royalguard.or.kr
99, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul

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 the 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.

Special Programs: The Royal Guard-Changing Ceremony is a highly recommended event for tourists. It is held three times a day (11:00 / 14:00 / 15:30) in front of Daehanmun Gate at Deoksugung Palace. As each ceremony follows the same procedure and lasts for thirty minutes, visitors can choose whichever time is most convenient. 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.

Major Highlights: The Royal Guard-Changing Ceremony is a great opportunity to experience a rare traditional scene. Be sure to bring a camera. The guards’ splendid costumes, with their brilliant primary colors, are a pleasure to view. While you cannot take pictures with the guards during the changing of guards, you can take a background picture of the guards and palace. You can also take photographs with the gatekeepers after the ceremony is over. Visit the palace and enjoy the beauty of Korean palaces following the ceremony.

Utilization information

・Finished : 20161231

・Location : Daehanmun Gate at Deoksugung Palace

・Beginning : 20140101

・Location : [Subway]
City Hall Station (Seoul Subway Line 1, 2), Exit 2.
- Go straight 100m to arrive at Daehanmun Gate on the right.

・Performance Times : 11:00-11:40 / 14:00-14:40 / 15:30-16:30 (excluding Mondays)
* Schedule is subject to change and the program may be canceled due to weather conditions.

・Operating Hours : Free

Introduction

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 the 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.

Special Programs: The Royal Guard-Changing Ceremony is a highly recommended event for tourists. It is held three times a day (11:00 / 14:00 / 15:30) in front of Daehanmun Gate at Deoksugung Palace. As each ceremony follows the same procedure and lasts for thirty minutes, visitors can choose whichever time is most convenient. 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.

Major Highlights: The Royal Guard-Changing Ceremony is a great opportunity to experience a rare traditional scene. Be sure to bring a camera. The guards’ splendid costumes, with their brilliant primary colors, are a pleasure to view. While you cannot take pictures with the guards during the changing of guards, you can take a background picture of the guards and palace. You can also take photographs with the gatekeepers after the ceremony is over. Visit the palace and enjoy the beauty of Korean palaces following the ceremony.

Access

99, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul


Traffic information

  • Subway Line 2 City Hall (시청)- 95.7m
  • Subway Line 1 City Hall (시청)- 95.7m
  • Subway Line 2 Euljiro 1(il)ga (을지로입구)- 584.1m
  • Subway Line 5 Gwanghwamun (Sejong Center for the Performing Arts) (광화문(세종문화회관))- 666.8m

Review(0)

Nearby information


intro Access Review

Nearby information

Yurimmyeon (유림면)

Seoul > Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

This store, which has a long history of over 50 years, makes noodles using only Bongpyeong buckwheat. The best menu at this restaurant is buckwheat noodles. This Korean dishes restaurant is located in Jung-gu, Seoul.

83m

Nolbumandu

Seoul >

Though the restaurant Nolbumandu’s specialty used to be son-mandu (handmade dumplings), the restaurant is now even more famous for its tasty “jokbal” (glazed pig’s feet), which is by far the most popular item on its menu. The menu also includes tteok-manduguk (dumpling soup

196m

Dalgaebi

Seoul > Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

This is a traditional Korean restaurant serving food in attractive bowls. Its main dishes are steamed rice in bamboo and raw rice wine (Makgeolli). When you pour makgeolli into a glass which is brewed in the old way, your nose gets ticklish because of the smell of yeast. Steamed rice cooked with Ind

235m

Samsung

Seoul > Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

This restaurant has been famous for its charcoal-grilled food since 1972, and is especially well known for its spicy seasoning made from powdered red pepper, garlic, and ginger. Pork is mixed with the seasoning, giving it the characteristic red color and unique flavor, and then grilled over hot coal

266m

Hanwoori - Sogong Branch

Seoul > Namdaemun・Seoul-Station

This shabu shabu restaurant usesi high-quality Korean beef and is famous because of its gravy and tender meats. Organic vegetables and wild flowers delivered from various places such as Ulleung Island and Jirisan Mountain give a delicious taste. Also, the rice porridge after having a noodle casserol

268m

Seoul > Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

Special Noodles from Japan! Inaniwa Yosuke Inaniwa Yosuke, located near Seoul City Hall, is Korea's branch of a restaurant named Sato Yosuke in Japan that has been specializing in udon for the past 350 years. As one of the top three must-eat udon in Japan, inaniwa udon featured at these res

283m

Songwon Bokjib

Seoul >

This restaurant serves Japanese-style, traditional pufferfish specialties. With almost half-century of experience in pufferfish cuisine, the owner of Songwon was trained in Teppan, Japan and remains a special member of the Japanese Pufferfish Federation. The restaurant also offers eel, sukiyaki, and

303m

Libuk Sonmandu

Seoul > Euljiro・Chungmuro・Namsan

Libuk Sonmandu restaurant is located deep in the alleys behind Seoul City Hall in the Mugyo-dong area. It is famous for Kimchimaribap and Sonmandu (handmade dumplings). Kimchimaribap is rice in a soup of kimchi and ice cubes with various added flavorings that originated in North Korea. This is a ref

324m
15~35% OFFCoupon

Sujeongsa CRYSTAL SPECIALTY STORE (Sogong Underground Shopping Center #65)

Seoul > Myeongdong

Sujeongsa Crystal Specialty Store - The Ultimate Destination for Amethyst Power Stones! (Sogong Underground Shopping Center #65) Discover the extraordinary world of Amethyst Power Stones at Sujeongsa Crystal Specialty Store, a highly reputed and popular shop located in Sogong Underground Shop

369m

Saeran Glasses (세란안경)

Seoul > Myeongdong

"Located on the first basement of Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, Saeran Glasses is a specialty eyewear store that opened at the same time as Lotte Department Store and Lotte Hotel in Myeong-dong. Saeran Glasses was originally Severance Optical, which opened in the 1920s first near Seoul Station and

431m

Cheong Kwan Jang - Namdaemun Branch

Seoul > Namdaemun・Seoul-Station

Cheong Kwan Jang is Korea's leading producer of six-year-old Korean red ginseng products, which are sold nationwide as well as in over 60 countries worldwide including the United States, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Located in close proximity of major tourist attractions, the main Cheong Kwang Jang

455m

Lotte Department Store - Avenuel Branch

Seoul > Euljiro・Chungmuro・Namsan

AVENUEL is a Lotte Department Store luxury-brand branch located in Seoul’s Gangbuk area. Brilliantly dressed in a “garden & gallery” concept and connected to the Lotte Department Store’s main building, AVENUEL offers a wide selection of imported fashion apparel, jewelry a

493m

Korean designer brand "rosa.K" is launched POP-UP store

Seoul > Myeongdong

Specializing in luxury bags made with leather materials and matching accessaries, rosa.K's items are known for their high quality and unique designs. All products are hand-sewn, providing one-of-a-kind collections to rosa.K clientele.   Korean designer brand "rosa.K" is

498m

Lotte Duty Free Shop - Main Branch

Seoul > Myeongdong

The Lotte Duty Free Shop is located at the center of Seoul, close to popular tourism destinations such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, Mt. Namsan, Itaewon, and popular shopping areas like Namdaemun Market. The Lotte Duty Free Shop is a one-stop shopping complex providing over 30 boutiques that offer shoppe

499m

Lotte Young Plaza

Seoul > Myeongdong

Opened in November 2003, Lotte Young Plaza was the first shopping mall in Korea devoted to casual wear for young people. The mall offers diverse brands as well as a variety of items from accessories to youth casual wear and women's casual wear. Its unique interior designs, convenient location, and t

500m

Dongwha Duty Free Shop

Seoul > Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

Dongwha Duty Free Shop’s Purchasing Team only select the world’s best brands for sale. You can shop for the latest popular brands in perfume, cosmetics, accessories, leather goods, and more. Apart from Korean brands and popular imported brands, you can also shop for specialty Korean products and

502m

Deoksugung Palace's Daehanmun Gate

Seoul > Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

Inhwamun Gate used to be the main gate before the main hall, Junghwajeon Hall, was built. The palace was expanded in 1902, building Junghwajeon Hall, Junghwamun Gate and Jowonmun Gate in order to furnish the sytem of law books. After that, the site for Inhwamun Gate became the site for Geongeukmun G

34m

Deoksugung Doldam-gil

Seoul > Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

Stretching approximately 900m in length, Deoksugung Palace Stone-wall Road was Korea’s first successful attempt at creating a comprehensive urban space where both people and nature can coexist. The road was built using eco-friendly materials and the utmost precautions were taken to ensure pedestri

38m

Deoksugung Palace

Seoul > Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

Located at the corner of Seoul's busiest downtown intersection, Deoksugung Palace is famous for its elegant stone-wall road. It is also the only palace that sits alongside a series of western style buildings that add to the uniqueness of the surrounding scenery. Deoksugung Palace originally be

134m

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Deoksugung [MMCA Deoksugung]

Seoul > Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Deoksugung was originally built as an annex to the National Museum of Contemporary Art. It specializes in seeking out and researching modern art, and also in exhibiting and preserving it. You can see classical works of modern art when you visit Nationa

147m

Jeongdong Observatory

Seoul > Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

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

169m

Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink

Seoul > Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

Seoul Plaza was established in 2004, and is centrally located by Seoul City Hall. The plaza is shaped like an egg and the full moon. Seoul Plaza hosts a wide array of cultural events including concerts and exhibitions for residents and visitors. The plaza transforms into an outdoor skating rink ever

177m

City Hall (Seoul Plaza)

Seoul > Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

Founded in 1926, Seoul City Hall is a Renaissance-style stone building. Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall is a historic site where the March 1, 1919 (Samil) Independence Movement and the pro-democracy movement in June 1987 were held. It is also a well-known place where tens of thousands of Korean so

184m

Cecil Theater

Seoul >

Established in 1976, Cecil Theater is a very prominent theater. The first five Korean Film Festivals were held here, making it the heart of Korean theaters. It is a theater steeped in tradition, and was reopened not long ago, with its facilities modernized. The high and narrow stage was lowered for

185m

Seoul Metropolitan Library

Seoul >

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 d

207m

Seoul Museum of Art

Seoul > Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) is a Korean modern art museum conveniently located in the Deoksugung Palace area near Jeongdong Theater (traditional performances) and Nanta Theater. SeMA is a 3-story building with 6 exhibition halls, a lecture hall for educational programs, and a library where art-rel

233m

Hotel The Plaza

Seoul > Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

The hotel is ideally situated in the center of Seoul, located close to many office areas, major banks, the hotel, and the city's main public transportation junctions. Namdaemun Gate and many shopping areas are not too far, making it convenient for business guests and tourists alike. Also, the hotel

179m

Astoria Hotel

Seoul > Myeongdong

Astoria Hotel is in Chungmuro, mecca of Korean films. The hotel is close to Chungmuro Station Line and is within a 5-minute walk of the Myeong-dong area, allowing guests to enjoy the shopping cultures of Myeong-dong, Namdaemun, and Dongdaemun Markets.

245m

Y Hotel - Goodstay

Seoul >

Located in “Youth Street” near Sinchon Station, Seoul, Y Hotel operates a heat-exchanging system 24/7 to maintain a pleasant environment and clean air. The hotel is also equipped with a state-of-art water softener and offers guests an opportunity to enjoy artificial sea bathing. In addit

245m

Hotel President

Seoul > Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

Hotel President is a premium hotel situated near City Hall in central Seoul, a prime location with easy access to the rest of the city. Nearby attractions include the city’s ancient palaces, Insadong, Myeongdong, Namdaemun, Dongdaemun, duty-free shops (Dongwha, Lotte), and more. The hotel f

299m

Daewoo Inn Hotel

Seoul > Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

Newly furnished up, Hotel Daewoo Inn greets tourists with comfortableness and kind service. Located right next to the City Hall Station the center of tourist attraction in Seoul. You can visit Deoksugung, Gyeongbokgung, Gwanghwamun, and Cheonggyecheon easily and tourists who enjoy shopping can visit

300m

Koreana Hotel

Seoul > Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

Koreana Hotel has been one of the top notch traveler's picks for more than 30 years, having business motto 'comfort for our customers.'The hotel is located at the Gwanghwamun fourway intersection, at the heart of Seoul, and provides 345 guest rooms. Amongst its dining facilities, the hotel boas

342m

The Westin Chosun

Seoul > Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

The Westin Chosun is situated in the heart of the business and shopping center of Seoul, where the embassies, banks, and government offices are also located. In 1999 and 2003, the Westin Chosun was selected as one of the world's top 100 hotels by international financial institutional investors,

360m

New Kukje Hotel

Seoul >

New Kukje Hotel has 142 guestrooms and several subsidiary facilities including a banquet hall, a men's sauna and a restaurant. Moreover, its location, in central Seoul, provides guests with easy access to heritage sites such as Deoksugung Palace and Gyeongbokgung Palace, cultural attractions such as

371m

Best Western New Seoul Hotel

Seoul > Seoul City Hall・Gwanghwamun

Opened in October 2001, Best Western New Seoul Hotel has 160 guestrooms and several dining, entertainment and convenience facilities such as a business center, a souvenir shop and men's sauna. It is conveniently located in central Seoul near City Hall, providing guests with easy access to shopping,

376m

Maru - Goodstay

Seoul >

Maru Guesthouse, located in Bukchang-dong, Seoul, offers a warm welcome to visitors to its clean and spacious facilities. As the guesthouse is just five minutes’ walk from City Hall Station and Hoehyeon Station, guests can easily reach Myeong-dong, Namdaemun Market, and various department stor

405m

Skiny-tae Aesthetic

Seoul > Myeongdong

Skiny-tae Aesthetic is designed to be unique and comfortable. The shop is decorated with cozy seating areas that cater to all five senses.

665m

Seoul TBC Total Beauty Care Myeongdong Main Branch - Myeongdong Massage & Head Spa

Seoul > Myeongdong

"Relaxation Meets Beauty in Myeongdong’s Top Wellness Spot!" Unwind after sightseeing with treatments designed to refresh your body and enhance your beauty. "Over 10 Years of Excellence! Trusted Beauty Care in the Heart of Myeongdong" Professional services tailored t

733m
20-25% OFFCoupon

Whoo SPA(OHUI SPA) Myeongdong Main Branch / Luxury cosmetic such as O HUI, WHOO use Myeongdong luxury spa

Seoul > Myeongdong

Loved not only by Korean celebrities but also those from Asia! O HUI Spa is especially different. It has a special distinction that draws officials from the Korea Tourism Organization, Gangnam-gu Office, and celebrities from Korea and abroad! Experience differentiated, customized, and safe one-on-

916m

Silloam Fire Pot Sauna

Seoul > Namdaemun・Seoul-Station

Located in Jungnim-ro, Jung-gu, Siloam Sauna has a convenient location to approach. The sauna uses natural Germanuim water from 300m unground that has an excellent water quality. The sauna has various various hot baths, and other subsidiary facilities for visitors.

1048m

Myeongdong Hana-Mud Sauna for Women

Seoul > Euljiro・Chungmuro・Namsan

      Discover the newly revamped Myeongdong Hana-Mud Sauna for Women! Now open for reservations starting from April, indulge in the ultimate relaxation experience. Effortlessly book your visit with quick and seamless confirmation on 'Trippose.com'.

1425m

Bourhill Esthetic

Seoul > Insadong・Jongnon

Bourhill Esthetic (est. 2005) is a professional beauty shop located in Daehangno, Seoul. Nationally recognized, certified professional therapists offer hand care, foot care, skin care, and body care treatments. The shop uses only high-end international cosmetic brand products, 80% of which are from

2858m

ARA Therapy

Seoul > Sinchon・Ewha Womans University

Ara Therapy offers excellent health care services and a cozy ambience at a reasonable price to all kinds of customers such as couples, family, and friends, regardless of age and gender. Services include foot-bathing and a free cup of healthy tea. Visitors can relieve their fatigue, listening to clas

3653m

Itaewon Land

Seoul > Itaewon・Yongsan

Itaewon Land is a 5-story jjimjilbang (Korean spa) with guest rooms available for overnight stays. Its traditional sauna, has a red clay room, flat stone room, and salt room. The water at Itaewon Land was verified by the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources and it is known as the best

3916m