After dark, Deoksugung Palace lights up its halls, including Seokjojeon, Junghwajeon, Hamnyeongjeon and Jungmyeongjeon, against the skyline of downtown Seoul.
Deoksugung Palace was the imperial palace of the Korean Empire, and it sits at 99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul. It’s open year-round from 09:00 to 21:00, with last entry at 20:00. The palace is closed every Monday, and a standard adult ticket costs 1,000 KRW (~$0.76 USD). It’s right outside Exit 2 of City Hall Station on subway Lines 1 and 2, which makes it an easy stop on an evening out.
What Is Deoksugung Palace?
Deoksugung Palace was originally called Gyeongungung (경운궁). After King Gojong proclaimed the Korean Empire in 1897, it became the imperial palace. It began as a private residence: the home of Grand Prince Wolsan, the older brother of King Seongjong of the Joseon Dynasty. In 1592, the Imjin War burned down every palace in the capital, and from the following year this house served as a temporary royal palace.
In 1611, the third year of King Gwanghaegun’s reign, it was named Gyeongungung and became an official palace. During the Korean Empire it was expanded to suit an imperial court, and Western-style buildings went up beside the traditional halls. That’s why traditional Korean architecture and Western-style buildings still stand side by side here.
A major fire in 1904 destroyed many of the buildings. In 1907, Japan forced Gojong to give up the throne, and after that the palace was renamed Deoksugung. During the Japanese colonial period most of its buildings were torn down and the grounds were turned into a park. Restoration work since then has brought it back to what visitors see today.
Deoksugung Palace at Night: When to Go and What to See
When night falls, every hall at Deoksugung Palace is lit up. You can see illuminated buildings such as Seokjojeon, Junghwajeon, Hamnyeongjeon and Jungmyeongjeon with the city lights of Seoul around them. The palace is open in the evening all year, so you can stay until 21:00 without booking ahead.
- Visiting hours: You can stay until 21:00, but the last entry is at 20:00.
- What to see: The lit-up exteriors of Seokjojeon, Junghwajeon, Hamnyeongjeon, Jungmyeongjeon and the other halls.
- Good to know: The interior of Seokjojeon (the Daehan Empire History Museum) and Jungmyeongjeon both close at 17:30. At night you’ll be looking at the buildings and their lighting from outside, not touring the inside.
Deoksugung Palace Opening Hours and Admission
Opening Hours
| Area | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General admission | 09:00–21:00 | Last entry 20:00; open in the evening year-round |
| Closed | Every Monday | If Monday is a public or substitute holiday, the palace opens and closes on the next weekday instead |
| Seokjojeon (Daehan Empire History Museum) | 09:30–17:30 | Online reservation required; guided tours at set times (last tour 16:30) |
| Dondeokjeon | 09:00–17:30 | Last entry 17:00; 1st and 2nd floors closed Oct 13–Nov 1 |
| Jungmyeongjeon | 09:30–17:30 | Last entry 17:00 |
Admission Fees
| Ticket | Price | Who it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (individual) | 1,000 KRW (~$0.76 USD) | Korean nationals aged 25–64; foreign visitors aged 19–64 |
| Adult (groups of 10+) | 800 KRW (~$0.60 USD) per person | Same as above |
| Integrated Palace Pass | 6,000 KRW (~$4.50 USD) | One entry each to Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Jongmyo within 6 months of purchase (Changdeokgung’s Secret Garden not included) |
Free admission applies to:
- Korean nationals aged 24 or under or 65 and over (bring ID)
- Foreign visitors aged 18 or under or 65 and over
- Visitors wearing hanbok
- Pregnant women plus one companion
- Registered persons with disabilities plus one accompanying caregiver
- National merit recipients, among others
The official fee page also lists “Culture Day” (문화가 있는 날), held every Wednesday, as free. The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Deoksugung (국립현대미술관 덕수궁관), which is inside the palace grounds, needs its own ticket on top of palace admission. You can buy the Integrated Palace Pass at the ticket offices of the four main palaces and Jongmyo.
Guided Tours and the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony
| Program | Times | Location / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deoksugung palace hall tour | 10:00, 11:15, 14:15, 16:30 | As of October 2026 |
| Seokjojeon Daehan Empire History Museum tour | In-depth 09:30, standard 13:00, standard 14:30, in-depth 16:30 | Online reservation required |
| Royal Guard Changing Ceremony | 11:00, 14:00 | In front of Daehanmun Gate; Jan 1–Dec 31, 2026; no ceremony on Mondays |
The Deoksugung Management Office announces Chinese-language tours by date (for example, October 15).
Before You Go: Closures and Construction
Part of Deoksugung Palace is currently closed or under construction. Everything except the areas below is running as usual.
| Item | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Dondeokjeon closure | Oct 13 (Tue) – Nov 1 (Sun), 2026 | 1st and 2nd floors closed while the old exhibition is removed and the next one is prepared |
| Outer palace wall works | Sep 21 – Nov 19, 2026 | Southern wall from Daehanmun Gate to the Ungyo site (운교터); roof tiles of Pyeongseongmun Gate taken down and reinstalled |
| Pyeongseongmun Gate closure | Oct 25 (Sun) – Nov 19 (Thu), 2026 | No entry or exit while the wall and Pyeongseongmun Gate are repaired |
Construction schedules may change depending on conditions on site, so check the notices on the official website before you visit.
How to Get to Deoksugung Palace
The closest station to Deoksugung Palace is City Hall Station on subway Lines 1 and 2. The palace is right outside Exit 2, about a 1-minute walk according to Seoul Metro. That figure comes from 2013, though, so things may have changed. If you’re coming by bus, get off at the “Sicheong-ap.Deoksugung” (시청앞.덕수궁) stop and walk from there.
| From | Transport | Travel time | Adult fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incheon Airport Terminal 2 → Seoul Station | AREX all-stop train (13 stations) | About 67 min | 5,350 KRW (~$4 USD) with a transit card |
| Incheon Airport Terminal 1 → Seoul Station | AREX all-stop train | — | 4,750 KRW (~$3.60 USD) with a transit card |
| Seoul Station → City Hall Station | Subway Line 1 | — | — |
| City Hall Station → Deoksugung | On foot (Exit 2) | About 1 min | Free |
- AREX all-stop trains run from 05:20 to 24:00.
- A single-journey ticket costs an extra 100 KRW (~$0.08 USD), plus a 500 KRW (~$0.38 USD) deposit that you get back at your destination station.
- At Seoul Station, transfer to subway Line 1 and get off at City Hall Station.
Tips for Seeing Deoksugung Palace at Night
- Get in before 20:00. The gates close at 21:00, but last entry is 20:00.
- Don’t go on a Monday. The palace is closed every Monday. If Monday is a public holiday, it opens and closes on the next weekday instead.
- See inside Seokjojeon during the day. The Daehan Empire History Museum in Seokjojeon is only open with an online reservation and closes at 17:30. A good plan is to tour Seokjojeon in the afternoon, then stay into the evening for the illuminations.
- Check whether you get in free. Admission is free if you’re wearing hanbok, if you’re a Korean national aged 24 or under, or if you’re a foreign visitor aged 18 or under.
- Get the Integrated Palace Pass if you’re seeing other palaces. For 6,000 KRW (~$4.50 USD), you get one entry each to the four main palaces and Jongmyo within 6 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is last entry at Deoksugung Palace?
Last entry is at 20:00. The palace is open from 09:00 to 21:00 and stays open in the evening all year.
How much is admission to Deoksugung Palace?
A standard adult ticket costs 1,000 KRW (~$0.76 USD). Groups of 10 or more pay 800 KRW (~$0.60 USD) per person. The adult rate covers Korean nationals aged 25–64 and foreign visitors aged 19–64.
Who gets free admission to Deoksugung Palace?
Korean nationals aged 24 or under or 65 and over, and foreign visitors aged 18 or under or 65 and over, get in free. So do visitors wearing hanbok, pregnant women plus one companion, registered persons with disabilities plus one accompanying caregiver, and national merit recipients, among others.
When is Deoksugung Palace closed?
It’s closed every Monday. If Monday is a public or substitute holiday, the palace opens that day and closes on the next weekday instead.
What time is the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at Deoksugung?
The ceremony takes place at 11:00 and 14:00 in front of Daehanmun Gate. It runs from January 1 to December 31, 2026, with no ceremony on Mondays.
Do I need a reservation for the Daehan Empire History Museum at Seokjojeon?
Yes, you need to book online in advance. Visits are guided tours at set times. The museum is open from 09:30 to 17:30, and the last tour starts at 16:30.
How do I get from Incheon Airport to Deoksugung Palace?
Take the AREX all-stop train to Seoul Station, then subway Line 1 to City Hall Station. The ride from Incheon Airport Terminal 2 to Seoul Station takes about 67 minutes and costs 5,350 KRW (~$4 USD) with a transit card (4,750 KRW (~$3.60 USD) from Terminal 1). Deoksugung is right outside Exit 2 of City Hall Station.
Can I visit Dondeokjeon right now?
No, the 1st and 2nd floors of Dondeokjeon are closed until November 1, 2026. They have been closed since October 13 while the old exhibition is removed and the next one is prepared.
Deoksugung Palace Info
- Address: 99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 세종대로 99)
- Contact: Deoksugung Management Office, 02-771-9951
- Website: https://royal.cha.go.kr/ROYAL/contents/menuInfo-dsg.do?grpCode=dsg
