Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식)

2.4Km 2025-07-11

99, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-2-737-6444

Deoksugung Palace has held a guard changing ceremony since 1996 after thorough historical research by leading historians. The ceremony, which is held in front of Daehanmun Gate of Deoksugung Palace, is a tradition similar to the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace and offers a rare opportunity to experience royal culture. The royal gate is opened and closed at pre-determined times, and the gatekeepers in charge of guard duty and patrols hold a shift ceremony three times a day.

The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is a highly recommended event for tourists. It is held three times a day, with each ceremony following the same procedure and lasts for forty minutes to an hour, and the ceremony is free of charge. There are no ceremonies on Mondays as well as on severely cold or hot days.

As the ceremony begins, the changing of the guards commences replete with traditional musical instruments, and exchanges a password for verification. An eight-minute guard ceremony ensues, followed by a seven-minute change ceremony, and finally a patrol that completes the ceremony. The procedure takes a dramatic turn when 18 guards in six official positions beat a drum and bellow some orders.

The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is a great opportunity to experience a rare traditional scene. The guards’ splendid costumes, with their brilliant primary colors, are a pleasure to view. Once the ceremony is over, visitors can take pictures with the gatekeepers.

Manjok Ohyang Jokbal City Hall (만족오향족발 시청)

2.4Km 2024-03-12

134-7, Seosomun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-753-4755

Located close to City Hall station, Manjok Ohyang Jokbal specializes in jokbal (braised pigs' feet). The restaurant has been recognized for its quality by being included in the 2023 Michelin Guide. It is recommended to try jaengban guksu (jumbo sized buckwheat noodles) and riceballs, which are perfect for pairing with pork feet. Deoksugung Palace, Seoul Plaza, and Namdaemun Gate are nearby, so visiting them will enrich one's cultural experience.

KT Square (KT스퀘어)

2.4Km 2021-07-08

178, Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-1577-5599

KT Square is a multi-complex that offers various cultural performances as well as hands-on experiences of the latest in IT technology. Gallery 130 showcases the history of KT Corp.

Tea Therapy (티테라피)

2.4Km 2024-12-13

74 Yunboseon-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-730-7507

Located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Tea Therapy can be of help to those who chronically feel unwell even though they do not have any serious diseases that need to be treated. It is a place where medicinal herbal teas, which once seemed difficult to enjoy, can be enjoyed without hassle and in a unique way. The teas found at Tea Therapy can be brewed within three minutes, similar to herbal teas found in other countries, and are both delicious and good for your health. Tea Therapy recommends tea through testing so even novices can have fun selecting teas that suit them. Tea products are sold here as well, allowing you to enjoy the same flavors at home.

Koreana Hotel (코리아나 호텔)

2.4Km 2021-06-21

135, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2171-7000

Koreana Hotel has been one of the top notch traveler's picks for more than 30 years, having the business motto 'comfort for our customers.'

The hotel is located at the Gwanghwamun fourway intersection, at the heart of Seoul, and provides 345 guest rooms. Amongst its dining facilities, the hotel boasts a Korean restaurant, Chinese restaurant, Japanese restaurant, and a Western restaurant, as well as a bar, coffee shops, and bakery. Eight banquet halls and a sauna are also available.

The hotel has operated as the main press center restaurant for the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and subsequently operated as the Olympic Village Restaurant for the Special Olympics. As a result of their successful operations, the hotel received lavish praise from the organizers, as well as from the players and staff for the high quality food and spectacular service.

Great Shanghai (대상해)

2.4Km 2020-02-07

135, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2171-7869

Great Shanghai is a Chinese restaurant serving deliciously genuine Sichuan and Beijing-style cuisine, located within the Koreana Hotel. Their specialty is shark's fin, directly imported from Sanji, and prepared by the head chef who has over 30 years of experience. Aside from shark's fin, the healthy buldojang, mapadubu and ddanddanmyeon are also top menus. Great Shanghai is decorated with high-quality interior design, and features rooms of various sizes for groups and business dinners.

Regal Optical [Tax Refund Shop] (리갈안경)

2.4Km 2024-04-19

Store #123, Section Ra-3 of Myeongdong Underground Shopping Center, 2, Namdaemun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

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Jangan Accessory Shopping Center (장안 액세서리상가)

2.4Km 2021-06-04

42-2, Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-753-5600

Jangan Accessory Shopping Center has a history of offering visitors unique accessories with colorful designs. Each shop boasts its own items, different from other stores. Visitors can enjoy purchasing accessories at discounted prices.

Mangnae Hoejip (막내회집)

2.4Km 2021-04-09

34-11, Namdaemunsijang, 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-755-5115

It is a Hoejip (raw fish restaurant) with 26 years’ tradition. This Korean dishes restaurant is located in Jung-gu, Seoul. The representative menu is sliced raw flatfish.

Seoul Cathedral Anglican Church or Korea (대한성공회 서울주교좌성당)

2.4Km 2020-03-30

15, Sejong-daero 21-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-730-6611

Seoul Cathedral Anglican Church of Korea began construction under Mark Trollope, the third bishop of the Anglican Church of Korea, in 1922. It was designed by a English architect Arthor Dixon. Dedication ceremony of the church was held On May 2, 1926 when the construction work hadn't been completed yet. At that time, the church building was a 3-storey building with a 992 m² floor size. Later in 1993, the original blue print of the church was found at a library in England and the construction resumed and would be completed in 1996.

The church building is a harmonious combination of Romanesque and traditional Korean style. The exterior of the church is shaped like a cross with various lines placed in harmony. Inside the cathedral, there are 12 stone columns symbolizing the 12 apostles, a mosaic of Jesus on the front wall, and a brass plate in commemoration of Mark Trollope. Under the brass plate, the remains of the bishop Mark Trollope are enshrined.
* Size: B1-3F
* Building site area: 519㎡ (157 pyeong), Ground area 909㎡ (275 pyeong)

Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식) - Area information - Korea travel information