Gyeongbokgung Royal Guard Changing Ceremony 2026: Times, Entry Fee, and Where to Stand

Bottom line: The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at Gyeongbokgung Palace runs twice a day, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., 20 minutes each, and you don't need a separate ticket — your Gyeongbokgung admission ticket (3,000 won for adults) covers it. Stand near Heungnyemun Gate rather than directly in front of Gwanghwamun Gate for a clearer view over the crowd.

If you didn't know: Not knowing the ceremony is off on Tuesdays and showing up on the palace's closed day means you can't even get inside, wasting the whole trip. Focusing only on the ceremony time and planting yourself right in front of Gwanghwamun also backfires, since that's exactly where the biggest crowd gathers — you often end up staring at the back of someone's head.

At the top of the hour, guards in red-and-blue traditional armor march out to drums and a conch-shell horn and run through the changing procedure. For the 20 minutes that the clash of armor and shouted commands echo across the plaza, the area fills with tourists angling for photos. The space right in front of Gwanghwamun's main gate draws the thickest crowd, so unless you're in the front row your view gets blocked — travel write-ups consistently suggest standing closer to Heungnyemun Gate inside instead, where there's more breathing room. On days with heavy rain, extreme heat or cold, the ceremony may run in a shortened form. And since wearing a full hanbok — both top and bottom — gets you into Gyeongbokgung for free, plenty of travelers build a hanbok rental into the same day's plan.

Journey stage: During the trip · Verified 2026-10-20 · Source Seoul Metropolitan Government Media Hub.