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Palaces to open at night this autumn

Palaces to open at night this autumn

A night view of Changgyeonggung Palace

Royal palaces from the Joseon era (1392- 1910) will be open at night in celebration of the coming autumn. Two palaces will be open at night, each for two weeks. Changgyeonggung Palace will be open from October 1 to 13 (but not October 7) and Gyeongbokgung Palace will be open from October 16 to 28 (but not October 22).

The number of visitors at Changgyeonggung Palace will be limited to a daily maximum of 1,700 people: 1,100 tickets allocated for on-line reservations and 600 for on-site sales. Gyeongbokgung Palace will have a maximum of 1,500 visitors each day: 1,000 tickets for on-line reservation and 500 tickets for on-site sales. Both palaces, during both times, will be open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. No entry is allowed after 9 p.m. The entrance fee remains unchanged: 1,000 KRW for Changgyeonggung Palace and 3,000 KRW for Gyeongbokgung Palace. (photo courtesy of the CulturalHeritageAdministration)

For those unable to get online, some additional tickets will be available by telephone reservation for both Changgyeonggung Palace (65 tickets) and Gyeongbokgung Palace (55 tickets). Reservations can be made from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, excepting Sundays and public holidays.

To mark the nighttime opening, the royal palaces will showcase a variety of traditional performances. At Changgyeonggung Palace, the field in front of Tongmyeongjeon will be transformed into a stage for a special performance from October 5 through 13 about Crown Princess Hong, who once lived here. There will be one performance per day at 8 p.m. on weekdays and two on weekends at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. The traditional dance and music spectacle tells the story of Crown Princess Hong, or Hyegyeonggung Hong (1735- 1815), as she looks back on her youth on her 60th birthday.

At Gyeongbokgung Palace, a music and dance performance will be held from October 16 through 28 (except for the 22) in the front Sujeongjeon field. It will be a story of hyo (filial duty) and gonggyeong (respect toward the elderly). A giroyeon, a feast for senior officials over 70–years-old, will be reenacted at 8 p.m. on weekdays and twice on weekends at 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

The CulturalHeritageAdministration (CHA) plans to gradually extend its night-opening program. This autumn's events were already extended once, to 12 days from the original five days. From 2014, the biannual event will be extended to every season, including January winters and July summers, allowing palace connoisseurs to visit up to 48 days a year.

By Wi Tack-whan,Lee Seung-ah
Korea.net Staff Writers
[email protected]

Palaces to open at night this autumn

Geunjeongjeon (top), Gyeonghoeru (bottom) in Gyeongbokgung Palace (photos courtesy of the CHA)

Palaces to open at night this autumn

Sungmundang in Changgyeonggung Palace (photo courtesy of the CHA)

Palaces to open at night this autumn

Myeongjeongjeon in Changgyeonggung Palace (photo courtesy of the CHA)

Palaces to open at night this autumn

Daeonsil, or Great Glass House, in Changgyeonggung Palace (photo courtesy of the CHA)

Palaces to open at night this autumn

Tongmyeongjeon, Changgyeonggung Palace (photo courtesy of the CHA)

Booking information

Fall 2013 Changgyeonggung • Gyeongbokgung Palace Special Open Night

We invite you to the Fall 2013 Changgyeonggung • Gyeongbokgung Palace Special Open Nights. Come to appreciate a beautiful night view of both Changgyeonggung and Gyeongbokgung Palace, situated in the heart of downtown Seoul. It will offer you a unique experience and grant you a better understanding of the historical and cultural value of these palaces.

● Opening Dates
• Changgyeonggung Palace : From October 1 to 13, 2013 (closed October 7)
• Gyeongbokgung Palace : From October 16 to 28, 2013 (closed October 22)

● Opening Hours : 7 ~ 10 p.m. (no entry after 9 p.m.)

● Number of Tickets Available Per Day: over 1,500

● Admission Fee
• Changgyeonggung Palace : KRW 1,000
• Gyeongbokgung Palace : KRW 3,000

● Ticket Purchase
① Changgyeonggung Palace tickets are available at http://ticket.auction.co.kr from 2 p.m. on 26 September (Korean only) They are available by phone at 1566-1369 (Korean only).
Gyeongbokgung Palace tickets are availavle at http://ticket.auction.co.kr from 2 p.m. on 11 October (Korean only). They are available by phone at 1566-1369 (Korean only).

② One person can buy a maximum of two tickets.

③ When you make your purchase, please have your contact information ready (e-mail address or phone number).

④ Upon entry, you will also be required to show your national ID card or your passport.

Source from :www.korea.net