Seoul, which has been the capital of the Joseon Dynasty for nearly 600 years, is home to five palaces: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, Deoksugung Palace, and Gyeonghuigung Palace. If you’ve always wanted to visit them but haven’t gotten around to it, why not do so in time for one of the biggest holidays of the year? For the 2025 Lunar New Year holiday, all five palaces, Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, and Deoksugung, as well as Jongmyo and the Tomb of the King of Joseon , will be open for free during the Lunar New Year holiday.
For more information on the Five Grand Palaces, visit: Seoul’s Five Grand Palaces
Jongmyo
Jongmyo is a royal shrine dedicated to the kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty, as well as the gods and goddesses of the deceased kings and queens, and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Jeongjeonjeon, which appeared in the movie “Sado,” is also located in Jongmyo.
[Viewing order]
Odaemun (main gate) – Mangmyo-ru – Gongmin Wangshindang – Hyangdae-cheong – Jaegung Palace – Gongsindang – Chilsadang – Jeongjeon – Jeongjeon Restoration Room – Warriors’ Hall – Jeongjeon – Yeongnyeongjeon – Jeongjeon Akgongcheong – Yeongnyeongjeon Akgongcheong
📍 157, Jongno-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
🚇 5 minutes walk from Jongno 3-ga Station (Exits 1-11, 3-8, 5-8 on Line 1)
Tomb of King Joseon
The tomb of the Joseon Dynasty is literally a tomb, and it is divided into ryeongs, wons, and mausoleums according to the type of tomb. Ryeongs are the tombs of kings and queens, as well as the tombs of deceased kings, queens, emperors, and empresses; wons are the tombs of the king’s sachin (the royal consort or royal family that gave birth to the king), crown princes, crown princesses, crown princesses, crown princes’ grandchildren, crown princes, and crown princesses’ grandchildren; and tombs are the tombs of the rest of the royal family (grand princes, princesses, princes, ongju, and consorts) and deceased kings.
The tombs of the Joseon Dynasty are scattered across 18 regions, totaling 40 tombs, and are listed as World Heritage Sites.
📍 Seoul Jeongneung Tomb: No. 46, Banghak-ro 17-gil, Dobong-gu, Seoul