Changdeokgung Palace opens autumn moonlit night tours in September

A nighttime program inviting visitors to stroll through Changdeokgung Palace's rear garden while taking in the palace's history and traditional performances will be held this autumn.

The Cultural Heritage Administration's Palace and Royal Tomb Management Office announced Tuesday that it will run the second-half 2026 edition of "Changdeokgung Moonlit Night Tour" in partnership with the Korea Heritage Promotion Agency. The program runs from Sept. 10 through Oct. 17, every Thursday through Sunday.

Six showings will be held each day. The first session starts at 7:10 p.m., 7:15 p.m. and 7:20 p.m., and the second at 8 p.m., 8:05 p.m. and 8:10 p.m., with each showing lasting 100 minutes. A total of 3,864 visitors may participate, with 28 admitted per showing.

Participants set off from Geumhomun Gate with a guide and visit Geumcheonggyo Bridge, Injeongjeon Hall, Huijeongdang Hall, Nakseonjae, Sangnyangjeong Pavilion, Buyongji Pond, Aeryeonjeong Pavilion and Aeryeonji Pond, Yeongyeongdang Hall and the rear garden forest path. At Nakseonjae's Sangnyangjeong Pavilion, visitors can listen to a daegeum flute performance. At Buyongji Pond, they can take commemorative photos with the cast of "Royal Promenade," a reenactment of a Joseon royal procession. At Yeongyeongdang Hall, guests enjoy a traditional Korean music ensemble and classic palace refreshments.

General visitors may apply through a lottery. Applications are accepted from 2 p.m. Thursday through 11:59 p.m. Aug. 26, with one entry allowed per account. Winners will be announced after 5 p.m. Aug. 28. Winners may book up to two tickets from 2 p.m. Aug. 29 through Sept. 2, with an admission fee of 30,000 won ($21) per person.

Remaining seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 2 p.m. Sept. 3. Those aged 65 or older, people with disabilities, veterans and holders of national merit registration cards may book by phone.

Dedicated showings in English, Chinese and Japanese will also be available for foreign visitors. The foreign-language sessions are scheduled for Sept. 20, Sept. 27, Oct. 4 and Oct. 11 — four days in total — with bookings opening on a first-come, first-served basis through Creatrip starting at 9 a.m. Aug. 28.

Further details are available on the websites of the Palace and Royal Tomb Management Office and the Korea Heritage Promotion Agency. Program inquiries can be directed to the palace program telephone consultation line, while questions about online and phone reservations should be addressed to the Ticket Link telephone consultation line.