What Is the Seokjojeon Night Tour?
The Deoksugung Seokjojeon night tour is one of Seoul’s best evening culture programs for families curious about the Korean Empire. You tour the inside of Seokjojeon with a guide, enjoy coffee and desserts on the terrace, then watch an original musical about the empire’s final days. It is not a walk-in festival: each session takes just 18 people, tickets are 100% pre-booked, and only children aged 7 and up can join.
Dates, Times and Prices
- Dates: September 9 – October 18, 2026, Wednesday to Sunday
- Venue: Seokjojeon, Deoksugung Palace, 99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu (City Hall Station Exit 2 on Line 1 or Exit 12 on Line 2)
- Sessions: 18:00–19:40, 18:40–20:20 and 19:15–20:55 (about 100 minutes, 18 people each)
- Price: 35,000 won per person, including palace admission
- Age: 7 and up (born 2019 or earlier); children must come with a guardian
How to Book
The priority lottery has closed, so watch Ticketlink for remaining seats and cancellations; leftover seats can be bought until 10 a.m. on the day. There are no on-site sales. Each account can buy up to two tickets, so a family of three cannot buy all seats on one account. Payment is by credit card only, the booker must attend with matching photo ID, and family transfers need proof of relationship. Cancel by 5 p.m. the day before for a full refund; after that, no changes.
Why the Seokjojeon Night Tour Is Special
This is more than a night opening. You walk rooms normally closed to free visits: the central hall, displays on the building’s construction and the imperial family, the emperor’s bedroom and study, the empress’s living room and bedroom, the state dining room and the reception hall. Seokjojeon, built from 1900 to 1910, is the Korean Empire’s signature Western-style building, and a stone-columned palace inside a wooden palace complex fascinates kids. The tour, the terrace and the musical tell one connected story about Emperor Gojong, Emperor Sunjong and the end of the empire.
What to Look For Inside
Focus on the emperor’s and empress’s private rooms, which show how the imperial family prepared for a modern state. Ask kids to compare Seokjojeon with traditional halls: stone instead of wood, tall columns, symmetrical facades and Western furniture. Give them a mission to find the plum blossom (oyatkkot), the imperial emblem; it even appears on the castella served on the terrace.
Terrace Cafe: Coffee and Desserts
On the second-floor terrace you enjoy night views with plum-blossom castella, chocolate butter cookies and a mini lemon pound cake. Drinks are chosen when booking: hot or iced coffee, or non-coffee teas such as barley-persimmon tea or mulberry tea. You cannot change on site, so pick a non-coffee drink for kids. Seats are assigned in pairs.
A Musical About the Empire’s Last Night
The tour ends with an original musical in the reception hall, set on the night of August 21, 1910, the eve of Japan’s annexation of Korea, with Gojong, Sunjong and Empress Sunjeonghyo. It is a dramatized story, so explain the difference between fact and fiction. No photos, video, recording or flash during the show; a photo moment with period props follows.
Is It Fun for Kids?
There are no crafts or kids’ shows. Elementary kids who like history, architecture or theater will love exploring imperial rooms, hunting for emblems and seeing a musical up close; very active kids may find 100 minutes long. Reading a children’s book or watching a short video about Gojong beforehand helps a lot.
Before You Go
Check in at the booth in front of the Daehanmun ticket office, from 20 minutes before your session; arrive at least 10 minutes early, as latecomers may be refused. Use the restroom first, since it is far from Seokjojeon. You change into slippers inside, so wear easy shoes. The program runs in rain, so bring an umbrella. No food or tripods.
A Jeongdong Walking Route
Make an afternoon of it. Seoul Museum of Art’s Seosomun building is beside the palace wall road (most exhibitions free, closed Mondays). Jungmyeongjeon, where the 1905 Eulsa Treaty was signed, connects perfectly with the tour’s story (09:30–17:30, last entry 17:00). Stroll Jeongdong-gil and the stone wall road, have an early dinner, then join the Seokjojeon night tour.
FAQ
- Can I buy tickets on site? No; online only via Ticketlink, until 10 a.m. on the day.
- Preschoolers? No; ages 7 and up only.
- Three tickets on one account? No; two per account.
- Rain? It runs in rain.
- Hanbok required? No; easy-to-remove shoes matter more.
- Fun for kids? Best for kids who enjoy history and performances.
Dates, programs and prices in this guide are as of the 2026 edition. Check the official website for next year’s schedule before you go.
More Family Trips on Yans World
- Nha Trang Fast Track Visa Application: Customs Tips and Doctor’s Pickup at Cam Ranh Airport
- Gapyeong Kids Pool Villa New Kids Pension Bao Family Heated Pool Villa
- Little Zoo Jari-Ju: A Family-Friendly Zoo for Visiting with Babies
Schedules and prices can change, so check the VISITKOREA official tourism site before you go.