The First Week of May Turns the Nation into a Playground... Free Admission to Palaces and Museums

Free Admission to the Four Grand Palaces, Jongmyo Shrine, and Joseon Royal Tombs
Roof Tile Restoration Experience at Wolseong in Gyeongju
Museum and Art Gallery Week Throughout May
Children's Design Festival at DDP

Gapsa Coverage Experience Site.

During the first week of May, which includes Labor Day and Children's Day, various free admissions and hands-on events for families will take place across the country. The Cultural Heritage Administration will offer free admission to royal palaces and tombs, while museums and art galleries will host exhibitions and experience-based programs. In downtown Seoul, children's cultural events will range from design festivals to performances.

On May 5, up to two guardians accompanying children aged 12 or younger can enter the Four Grand Palaces (Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, and Changgyeonggung), Jongmyo Shrine, and the Joseon Royal Tombs free of charge. This applies to both Koreans and foreigners.

On the same day, the National Heritage Promotion Agency will hold the Changing of the Royal Guards Ceremony at Gwanghwamun Woldae and Hyopseongmun Gate in Gyeongbokgung Palace. Activities will include the "Royal Guards Mascot Performance," where guards wear character costumes, and the "Gapsa Recruitment Experience," which allows participants to emulate the selection process for Gapsa, the elite soldiers of the central army during the Joseon Dynasty.

On May 5, the Natural Monument Center will hold the "Natural Heritage Free Day," opening the geology and flora & fauna storage rooms—which are usually off-limits to visitors—to the public. The National Annals of the Joseon Dynasty Museum will present two performances by the traditional music duo "Byeolha" on May 1. On Children's Day, the museum will distribute commemorative gifts to 200 families with children.

The National Intangible Heritage Center will host the "Family Folk Game Contest" on May 2 and May 9 in the outdoor courtyard of Jeonju Jungjeong. Visitors can participate in traditional games such as Gonu, Ssangnyuk, stone-tossing (Biseok Chigi), Tuho, Jegichagi, and Yutnori, as well as make wooden spinning tops, colorful jegi (traditional Korean hacky sacks), and mother-of-pearl keychains. On May 9, the Eolssumaru Grand Theater will feature the children's musical "Jeoseunghalmang," inspired by Jeju shamanistic myths.

On Children's Day, the National Gyeongju Research Institute of Cultural Heritage will organize four sessions of roof tile restoration workshops in the auditorium of the Silla Wolseong Research Center. Participants will assemble and restore replica tiles such as Sumaksae and Gwimyeonwa, based on artifacts excavated from Wolseong.

Seoul Museum of History International Exchange Exhibition 'The Red Pig's Paper Adventure.'

From May 1 to May 31, museums and art galleries nationwide will host the "2026 Museum and Art Gallery Week." The theme is "Museums Connecting a Divided World."

The National Museum of Korea will present the "National Museum Outing" from May 2 to May 5, featuring hands-on booths, a book market, a food zone, and special guided tours at the Open Plaza, Mirror Pond Square, and the permanent exhibition hall. The National Folk Museum of Korea will hold "Children's Day, Earth Playground" on May 4 and 5 as part of its 80th anniversary celebration.

The Seoul Museum of History will offer an interactive exhibition to commemorate the opening of its Children's Museum. The international exchange exhibition "The Paper Adventure of the Red Pig" will run until June 7, while the participatory lobby exhibition "PUTTO" will be open until June 10.

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art will offer free admission to its Seoul, Gwacheon, and Cheongju branches from May 1 to May 5. However, only the permanent exhibition "Highlights of Korean Contemporary Art" will be available at the Seoul branch, and the Gwacheon and Cheongju branches will be closed on May 4.

Children's events will also take place in downtown Seoul. The Seoul Design Foundation will hold the "Children's Design Festival" at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) outdoor venue from May 2 to May 5, including a toy market, design playground, and parades at venues such as Eoullim Square, Palgeori, and the Grass Hill. On May 5, the group ILLIT will perform at Seoul Children's Grand Park.

'The UNICEF Daisy Garden' prepared by the Korean Committee for UNICEF at the 2026 Goyang International Flower Exhibition.

Near Seoul, the UNICEF Korea Committee will operate a Daisy Garden at Ilsan Lake Park—where the 2026 Goyang International Flower Expo is being held—until May 10. A 6-meter-tall balloon, created in collaboration with popular character Dinotang, will be installed, and limited-edition floral fans will be given to visitors who complete the missions.

Children’s events will also continue in other regions. The National Asia Culture Center in Gwangju will host the "How Fun 12" children and family cultural festival on May 2, 3, and 5, with around 50 programs. The Daegu Art Museum will launch its educational exhibition "Even Cats Can Meet the King" on May 2.

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