[Report] "Shall We See Moonlight at the Palace?" Life Photos at the Palace... Even 'Gungketting'

Lost in a Selfie Frenzy at Deoksugung Seokjojeon
Enjoying the 'King and Queen' Dessert at Gyeongbokgung
Romance and Leisure Preferred, Highly Popular Among MZ Generation

"I barely managed to book tickets. It seems like it will be a great memory!"

Office worker Park Seung-hyuk (31), who revealed that he barely secured tickets for the '2023 Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour,' said, "With COVID-19 somewhat over, the competition for tickets this year seemed even fiercer." Park added, "Palace events have always been popular. I think they will continue to be so."

Planned events held at palaces such as Gyeongbokgung, Changgyeonggung, and Changdeokgung are steadily gaining popularity. Among some circles, the term 'gungketting' has even emerged, surpassing the newly coined word 'picketting,' which means 'bloody war-like ticketing.'

'Gungketting' is a portmanteau of 'gung' (palace) and 'ticketing.' It arose due to the fierce competition for reservations, and it is said that palace tours have become a trend among the MZ generation, including people in their 20s and 30s. According to the reservation site Interpark, 82.6% of those who booked tickets for last year's 'Gyeongbokgung Saenggwabang' were under 30, 81.9% for 'Night at Seokjojeon' held at Deoksugung, and 74.1% for Gyeongbokgung's 'Moonlight Tour' were also under 30. Because of this, the Cultural Heritage Administration has even introduced a lottery system for some event reservations. BTS member RM expressed his regret on Twitter in 2021 about the 'Gyeongbokgung Starlight Night Tour,' saying, "(Tickets) always sell out, so I haven't been able to attend."

In addition, traditional accessories are gaining popularity among young people. These include practical items that preserve the beauty of Korea, such as small replicas of mother-of-pearl soban (small tables) that can charge smartphones, miniature Banjasayusang statues, and Goryeo celadon cases. Proving this popularity, in October last year, IVE member Jang Won-young attended a luxury jewelry brand's gala dinner show in Paris, France, wearing a phoenix binyeo (traditional hairpin).

On the afternoon of the 20th, the reporter visited Changgyeonggung and easily saw groups of young people gathering in threes and fives, taking photos of each other and strolling, even on a weekday. Nearby Changdeokgung was also seeing a steady flow of visitors. Gyeongbokgung was bustling with both general visitors and tourists, resembling a weekend crowd.

Office worker Park Hyung-sik (37), who came out for an outing with his family to Gyeongbokgung, said, "I like the sense of relaxation the palace gives," adding, "Although not often, I visit the palace with my family." Another office worker, Kim Young-kwang (35), said, "When I want to organize my thoughts, I visit (the palace)," adding, "The quiet atmosphere seems to calm people. There are many palace events, which is nice."

As citizens' reactions show, palace-related events are very popular. In particular, the 'Gyeongbokgung Saenggwabang' event, where participants can enjoy six types of royal court confectioneries such as yakgwa and sagwa jeonggwa, along with six types of royal court medicinal teas like samgyul tea, gamguk tea, and omija tea, allowing visitors to relax in the heart of Seoul, sold out all three sessions last year. Gyeongbokgung Saenggwabang is a place where the king and queen's desserts and special dishes are prepared, and the event is designed based on the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty so that people today can enjoy the royal court confectioneries and medicinal teas once consumed by the monarchs.

In front of a hanbok rental shop near Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul. Despite being a weekday afternoon on the 20th, many visitors and tourists continue to come. Photo by Han Seung-gon

The 'Night at Seokjojeon' event held at Deoksugung is also very popular. Seokjojeon is a representative Western-style building of the Korean Empire, completed in 1910. It is a modern architectural structure notable for its strict proportions and bilateral symmetry. The Cultural Heritage Administration restored Seokjojeon, which had been partially damaged due to various uses since the 1930s, to its original form and opened it as the 'Seokjojeon Korean Empire History Museum' in 2014.

Because of its serene atmosphere and exotic architecture, it is unique and beautiful, making it very popular. Among the MZ generation, it is sometimes called the 'Seokjojeon Life Four-Cut' (a reference to photo booth strips). Accordingly, last year, the Cultural Heritage Administration provided early modern period props such as bowler hats and ribbon decorations at the 'Night at Seokjojeon' event to create a self-photo studio. In addition, various cultural events are held, including the Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour, Changgyeonggung Ayeon, Gyeongbokgung Starlight Night Tour, and Jongmyo Myohyeonrye.

A Cultural Heritage Administration official said that the positive response is likely because traditional Korean culture, which might feel difficult, has been reinterpreted in an easy-to-understand way. An expert analyzed that as Korean popular culture such as K-POP gains popularity overseas, interest in Korean culture naturally follows.

A representative from the Cultural Heritage Administration's Palace and Royal Tombs Division said, "Our culture is very sophisticated. However, it is true that there are some difficulties in understanding and approaching this culture. But by holding these events, people can approach it more familiarly, which is why many people visit, I believe." Yu Hong-jun, former head of the Cultural Heritage Administration and author of My Cultural Heritage Travelogue (1993, Changbi, Joongang M&B), said, "This is a welcome development," adding, "The reason our palaces are popular is that 'K-culture' is very popular worldwide, and naturally, interest in it has increased."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.