A night at the palace
By Kim Mun-jeong (intern reporter)
Autumn is a great season to take a stroll. And more than ever, it’s a great season to stroll around the royal palaces, which are offering special night openings starting from mid-October until early November.
The three royal palaces – Gyeongbok, Changgyeong and Deoksu Palaces – invite you to enjoy their beautiful autumn night scenery.
Gyeongbok Palace
Gyeongbok Palace in the heart of Seoul, with its main gate facing Gwanghwamun Square, is the largest royal palace in the city. The palace has several entrances. The main gate leads to Geunjeongjeon, the throne hall.
At night, visitors can enjoy a spectacular view of the softly lit Gyeonghoeru pavilion, where royal banquets were held, reflected on the water. Gyeongbok Palace was the first of five palaces built during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) in 1395. It was completely destroyed during the Japanese invasion of Joseon (1592-1598) and later rebuilt.
Night openings : Oct. 22 – Nov. 3 (except Oct. 28)
Opening hours : 7-10 p.m. (last admission: 9 p.m.)
Address : 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Transportation : Subway line No. 3, Gyeongbokgung Station, exit No. 5; subway line No. 5, Gwanghwamun Station, exit No.2
Changgyeong Palace
Changgyeong Palace was built in 1483 to supplement the limited space of the nearby Changdeok Palace and boasts a similar ambience. Changgyeong Palace offers a serene getaway for busy city dwellers.
Night openings : Oct. 21 – Nov. 2 (except Oct. 27)
Address : 185 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Transportation : Subway line No. 4, Hyehwa Station, exit No. 4
Deoksu Palace
Deoksu Palace, next to Seoul City Hall, is renowned for its beautiful stone walls and its Western-style garden.
When you first walk through the main gate, called Daehanmun, you’ll feel as if you’re in a different world. The atmosphere inside the palace walls contrasts sharply with that of the bustling street outside. Deoksu Palace offers a peculiar combination of modernity and tradition because some of its structures were built as part of Korea’s modernization efforts.
There’s also a walkway on the other side of the stone walls surrounding the palace, which provides a serene, cozy atmosphere.
Opening hours : 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. (last admission: 8 p.m.) All year long night openings (closed on Mondays)
Transportation : Subway line No. 1, City Hall Station, exit No. 2; subway line No. 2, City Hall Station, exit No. 12
Address : 99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul Admission fee : 1,000 won