Gyeongbokgung Palace opens late on 19 November
Published on 11/14/2026 at 10:56 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSExam day access changes
- The Korea Heritage Service changes Gyeongbokgung Palace access on 19 November 2026.
- All palace entrances open at 10am, while guided tours begin at 10.10am.
- Seoul's first and largest Joseon royal palace was built in 1395.
Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul will open one hour later on 19 November 2026 for South Korea's university entrance examination, the Suneung. The palace, also called Gyeongbokgung Palace, will admit visitors from 10am rather than its usual 9am start.
The 19 November change at Gyeongbokgung
The temporary arrangement applies on Thursday 19 November, when the Korea Heritage Service is adjusting access at sites managed by its Royal Palaces and Tombs Center. The measure is intended to reduce traffic around examination venues and help candidates reach them.
At Gyeongbokgung Palace, all entrances named by the Korea Herald, including Gwanghwamun, Hyeopsengmun and Yongseongmun, will open at 10am. The first guided tours of the palace and Chilgung Shrine will begin at 10.10am. The article describes the change as applying to that day, after which the normal schedule resumes. The full 19 November access notice also lists later starts or cancelled early tours at other royal sites.
Gyeongbokgung Palace connects the change with Joseon history
The temporary delay affects the first hour of a visit, but not the palace's role as Seoul's principal Joseon royal landmark. The official Seoul travel guide identifies it as the first and largest of the royal palaces built during the Joseon Dynasty and records its construction in 1395.
That setting gives the altered morning access a clear practical consequence. Travellers planning to begin with Gwanghwamun or an early guided tour will find every entrance closed until 10am on 19 November, while the palace's historic buildings remain the reason to visit after admission begins. The grounds also contain the National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum of Korea, according to the official Seoul guide.
Why the palace remains central to Seoul's royal landscape
Gyeongbokgung Palace stood at the centre of the newly established capital, then known as Hanyang, and served as the Joseon main palace. It is the largest of Seoul's Five Grand Palaces, while the government continues rebuilding and restoring structures damaged during the Japanese occupation.
The complex therefore combines surviving historical spaces with long-running reconstruction work. Its western gate, Yeongchumun, opened to the public in December 2018, giving visitors another approach between the palace and Seochon. These details matter on a day when the usual early entry pattern is suspended.
Visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The special access date is Thursday 19 November 2026. All entrances open at 10am, and the first Gyeongbokgung Palace and Chilgung tours begin at 10.10am.
- The change affects the morning visit only. The palace still closes at 5pm on 19 November, according to the Korea Herald report.
- Gyeongbokgung Palace is in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, with Gwanghwamun as its principal southern gate and Seoul's National Palace Museum and National Folk Museum on the grounds.
- The palace was built in 1395 and its grounds include reconstructed and restored buildings, so the visit combines historic structures with later conservation work.
- Korean is South Korea's official language and the national currency is the won.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Gyeongbokgung Palace
When does the delayed opening take place at Gyeongbokgung Palace?
The delayed opening takes place on 19 November 2026, the day of South Korea's Suneung university entrance examination.
What changes at Gyeongbokgung Palace on 19 November?
All entrances open at 10am and the first guided tours begin at 10.10am. The palace still closes at 5pm.
Where is Gyeongbokgung Palace and how do you get there?
It is in Jongno-gu in central Seoul, with Gwanghwamun as its principal southern gate. The complex also includes the National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum of Korea.
