Changgyeonggung Palace is a Joseon-era royal palace at 185 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. It’s open 09:00–21:00 all year (last entry 20:00), so you can walk its grounds after dark. Adult tickets cost 1,000 KRW (~$0.75 USD), and the palace is closed every Monday. From Thursday, October 29 to Sunday, November 15, 2026, entry is free for all visitors during the Korea Grand Festival (except on Mondays, when the palace is closed). One important exception: there is no general night admission from Tuesday, November 10 to Sunday, November 15.
What Is Changgyeonggung Palace?
King Seongjong built Changgyeonggung (昌慶宮) in 1483, the 14th year of his reign, as a home for three queen dowagers: Queen Jeonghui, wife of King Sejo; Queen Sohye, wife of Deokjong; and Queen Ansun, wife of King Yejong. The site already held Suganggung (壽康宮), a palace King Sejong built in 1418 for his father, the retired King Taejong. Seongjong greatly enlarged Suganggung and renamed it Changgyeonggung.
No wall separated Changgyeonggung from neighboring Changdeokgung Palace. Together they formed a single royal compound known as Donggwol (東闕), the “Eastern Palace,” and Changgyeonggung served mainly as living quarters for the royal family. It burned during the Imjin War (the Japanese invasions of Korea) and was rebuilt in 1616, the 8th year of Gwanghaegun’s reign. In 1830 (the 30th year of King Sunjo’s reign), a major fire destroyed most of its buildings, which were rebuilt four years later.
The palace’s decline began in 1907, after King Sunjong took the throne and a zoo and botanical garden were built inside the grounds. In 1911, the Japanese colonial authorities downgraded it to “Changgyeongwon (昌慶苑)” and turned it into something closer to a public park. It finally got its name back in 1983, after liberation; the zoo was moved out and the grounds were restored as a palace. Unlike other palaces, which face south, Changgyeonggung’s main gate and throne hall face east.
Changgyeonggung Palace at Night: Hours and the Best Areas to Visit
Changgyeonggung doesn’t run a separate night-opening season. It simply stays open until 21:00 every day of the year, with last entry at 20:00. After dark, only the area around Honghwamun Gate (홍화문), Myeongjeongjeon Hall (명정전), Tongmyeongjeon Hall (통명전), Chundangji Pond (춘당지), and the Daeonsil Greenhouse (대온실) stays open, so evening visits follow that route.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 09:00–21:00 (last entry 20:00) |
| Night viewing area | Honghwamun, Myeongjeongjeon, Tongmyeongjeon, Chundangji, and Daeonsil |
| When to move from daytime areas to the night viewing area | By 17:30 in Nov–Feb / by 18:00 in Mar–May and Sep–Oct |
| Daeonsil Greenhouse | Open in November; closes from 18:00 in Dec–Feb |
A few things to keep in mind before an evening visit:
- An official notice said that part of Chundangji Pond would be closed from 18:00 to 21:00, starting February 10, 2026, until repairs to the lighting are complete. Check before you go to see whether this restriction still applies.
- The Daeonsil Greenhouse stays open in November but closes from 18:00 in December through February, so on winter evenings you probably won’t get to see it.
2026 Donggwol Dongnak (동궐동락) Night Program
Donggwol Dongnak is a paid night program that takes you through both Changgyeonggung and Changdeokgung. Because general night admission is suspended while it runs, entering this program is the only way to see the palace after dark during those dates.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | November 10–15, 2026 |
| Sessions | Daily at 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, and 19:30 (4 sessions), 110 minutes each |
| Route | Honghwamun → Myeongjeongjeon, Tongmyeongjeon, Daechundangji (대춘당지), and more → through Yeongchunmun Gate (영춘문) for free viewing of the Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung rear gardens |
| Performances | Short performances at four spots along the route |
| Price | 40,000 KRW (~$30 USD) per person (up to 2 tickets per person) |
| Selection | Lottery |
| Online entry | From 14:00 on October 22, 2026, via Ticketlink (www.ticketlink.co.kr) |
| Phone booking | From November 5 via Ticketlink, 1588-7890 (for visitors aged 65+, people with disabilities, and holders of a national veterans’ registration card) |
| Inquiries | Palace program hotline, 1522-2295 |
Changgyeonggung Palace Hours and Admission
Opening Hours
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Hours | 09:00–21:00 year-round |
| Last entry | 20:00 |
| Closed | Every Monday (if Monday is a public or substitute holiday, the palace opens and closes on the next weekday instead) |
| Yulgok-ro gate (connecting to Jongmyo Shrine) | Open only on weekends, public holidays, and Culture Day; last entry 17:00 in Nov–Jan |
| Nov 10–15, 2026 | No general night admission; daytime viewing ends at 17:30 (last entry 16:30) |
Admission
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults (Korean citizens aged 25–64, foreign visitors aged 19–64) | 1,000 KRW (~$0.75 USD) |
| Groups (10 or more) | 800 KRW (~$0.60 USD) per person |
| Residents of the local district | 50% off (can’t be combined with the group rate) |
| Free | Korean citizens aged 24 and under or 65 and over (bring ID), foreign visitors aged 18 and under or 65 and over, anyone wearing hanbok |
| Every Wednesday (Culture Day) | Free |
| Korea Grand Festival, Thu Oct 29–Sun Nov 15, 2026 | Free for everyone (closed Mondays) |
If you qualify for free entry, you’ll need to show proof at the ticket office. During the Korea Grand Festival, entry is free at the four major palaces, Jongmyo Shrine, and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty. The free admission doesn’t cover Mondays, when the palace is closed, or the special tour of the Changdeokgung rear garden.
Restricted Areas (as of the March 3, 2026 notice)
| Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Gwollaegaksa (궐내각사), Naesaboksi (내사복시) section | Closed around the clock from September 22, 2025, until restoration is complete. Only the areas near Seoninmun Gate (선인문), Gwancheondae (관천대), Restroom 3, and the Yulgok-ro entrance are open |
| Part of Chundangji Pond | Closed 18:00–21:00 from February 10, 2026, until repairs are complete (lighting issue) |
| Areas open day and night | Yanghwadang (양화당), Tongmyeongjeon, Gyeongchunjeon (경춘전), Haminjeong (함인정), Hwangyeongjeon (환경전), Munjeongjeon (문정전), Myeongjeongjeon, Daeonsil, and Chundangji |
How to Get to Changgyeonggung Palace from Hyehwa Station
If you’re taking the subway, the easiest way is to get off at Hyehwa Station on Line 4 and walk.
| Transport | Get off at | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Subway Line 4 | Hyehwa Station, Exit 4 | About a 12-minute walk |
| Bus | Changgyeonggung stop | Walk to the palace |
- Address: 185 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Parking: We couldn’t confirm any official parking information. Public transportation is your best option. If you plan to drive, contact the Changgyeonggung Palace Management Office (02-762-4868) beforehand.
- To combine your visit with Jongmyo Shrine, use the Yulgok-ro gate, which connects to Jongmyo. It opens only on weekends, public holidays, and Culture Day.
Changgyeonggung Palace Tips
- Visit between October 29 and November 15 and it’s free. All visitors get in free during the Korea Grand Festival. The palace is still closed on Mondays.
- No general night visits from November 10 to 15. The Donggwol Dongnak night program replaces general night admission on those dates. Daytime viewing ends at 17:30, with last entry at 16:30.
- Wednesdays and hanbok mean free entry year-round. Admission is free for everyone on Wednesdays (Culture Day) and for anyone wearing hanbok.
- Night visits stay within the night viewing area. If you’re in a daytime-only area, move to the Honghwamun–Myeongjeongjeon–Tongmyeongjeon–Chundangji–Daeonsil area by 17:30 in November–February or by 18:00 in March–May and September–October.
- Last entry is 20:00. The palace closes at 21:00, but you can’t get in after 20:00, so give yourself plenty of time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is admission to Changgyeonggung Palace?
Adult admission is 1,000 KRW (~$0.75 USD). Adults are Korean citizens aged 25–64 and foreign visitors aged 19–64. Groups of 10 or more pay 800 KRW (~$0.60 USD) per person. Residents of the local district get 50% off, but this can’t be combined with the group rate.
Who gets free entry to Changgyeonggung Palace?
Korean citizens aged 24 and under or 65 and over, foreign visitors aged 18 and under or 65 and over, and anyone wearing hanbok get in free. Every Wednesday (Culture Day), entry is free for everyone. If you qualify for free entry, you’ll need to show proof. During the Korea Grand Festival, from Thursday, October 29 to Sunday, November 15, 2026, all visitors get in free.
How late is Changgyeonggung Palace open at night?
The palace is open until 21:00, with last entry at 20:00. After dark, only the area around Honghwamun, Myeongjeongjeon, Tongmyeongjeon, Chundangji, and the Daeonsil Greenhouse is open. From November 10 to 15, 2026, there’s no general night admission and the palace closes at 17:30 (last entry 16:30).
What day is Changgyeonggung Palace closed?
The palace is closed every Monday. If a Monday is a public or substitute holiday, it stays open and closes on the next weekday instead.
How do I book Donggwol Dongnak at Changgyeonggung Palace?
Tickets go to lottery winners, and online entries open at 14:00 on October 22, 2026, on Ticketlink (www.ticketlink.co.kr). Tickets cost 40,000 KRW (~$30 USD) per person, and you can apply for up to two. Visitors aged 65 and over, people with disabilities, and holders of a national veterans’ registration card can book by phone through Ticketlink at 1588-7890 from November 5.
Is there parking at Changgyeonggung Palace?
We couldn’t confirm any official parking information, so we recommend public transportation. It’s a walk from Exit 4 of Hyehwa Station on subway Line 4. If you plan to drive, contact the Changgyeonggung Palace Management Office (02-762-4868) in advance.
How long does it take to walk from Hyehwa Station to Changgyeonggung Palace?
It’s about a 12-minute walk from Exit 4 of Hyehwa Station on subway Line 4. By bus, get off at the Changgyeonggung stop and walk from there.
Can I see the Daeonsil Greenhouse at night?
Yes, in November the Daeonsil Greenhouse is part of the night viewing area, so it’s open in the evening. From December to February, it closes from 18:00.
Who do I contact with questions about Changgyeonggung Palace?
Contact the Changgyeonggung Palace Management Office at 02-762-4868. For the Donggwol Dongnak program, call the palace program hotline at 1522-2295. The official website is https://royal.khs.go.kr/cgg.
