Free Admission to Royal Palaces and Tomb Heritage Sites on Children's Day... Hands-On Events Nationwide
by Lee Jonggil
Published 24 Apr.2026 09:00(KST)
Up to Two Guardians Accompanying Children Under 12 Receive Free Admission
A Variety of Activities Including Gyeongbokgung Guard Ceremony and Tile Restoration Workshops
The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on April 24 that, in celebration of Children's Day, royal palaces and tomb heritage sites will be open to the public free of charge, and special hands-on events will be held across the country.
On May 5, up to two guardians accompanying children under the age of 12 will be allowed free entry to the Four Major Palaces (Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, and Changgyeonggung), Jongmyo, and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty. This applies to both Korean nationals and foreign visitors.
On the same day, the National Heritage Promotion Agency will hold a guard-changing ceremony at the Gwanghwamun Woldae and Hyeopseongmun areas of Gyeongbokgung Palace. This includes the "Mascot Guard Ceremony," featuring mascot characters dressed as royal guards, and the "Gapsa Coverage Experience," where visitors can take part in a trial for selecting Gapsa. In the Joseon Dynasty, Gapsa were elite soldiers of the central army.
The Natural Monument Center will host "Natural Heritage Free Day" on the same day. It will open the geology and flora-fauna storage rooms, which are usually off-limits to visitors, and hold family-oriented quiz competitions and other activities.
The National Annals of the Joseon Dynasty Museum will feature two performances by the traditional music duo Byeolha on May 1. On Children's Day, the museum will distribute souvenirs to 200 families visiting with children.
The National Intangible Heritage Center will hold a "Family Folk Game Contest" in the outdoor courtyard of Jeonju Jungjeong on May 2 and 9. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience traditional games such as Gonu, Ssangnyuk, Biseok-chigi, Tuho, Jegichagi, and Yutnori, as well as make items like wooden spinning tops, five-colored jegi, and mother-of-pearl keychains. On May 9, the children's musical play "Jeoseunghalmang," based on the Jeju shamanic myth "Samsunghalmang Bonpuli," will be performed on the main stage of Eolssu Maru.
The Gyeongju National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage will host four tile restoration workshops at the Silla Wolseong Research Center auditorium on Children's Day. Participants can join and restore replica tiles such as sumaksae (round decorative tiles used at the end of eaves) and guimyeonwa (tiles embossed with faces of spirits or goblins) excavated from Wolseong.
The Chilbaekui Chong Management Office will distribute "Mother-of-Pearl Fan Making Experience Kits" to visitors to Chilbaekui Chong from May 1 to 3 and on May 5.
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