ATEEZ Sang at Gyeongbokgung on Immortal Songs: How to Visit the Palace (Free in Hanbok) and Where to Stay Nearby
ATEEZ just sang in front of Gyeongbokgung. Here is how to visit the same palace, free if you wear hanbok, and where to sleep nearby
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On October 31, 2026, KBS2’s Immortal Songs aired part two of its royal palace special, and the line-up included ATEEZ. The stage was not in a studio. According to the Maeil Shinmun, the special was filmed on a stage set up in front of Heungnyemun Gate inside Gyeongbokgung Palace, the first broadcast filmed there. You cannot see that stage now, but the palace is open to everyone. Here are the official hours, fees and hanbok rules, plus hotels within walking distance.
Visitors in hanbok in a palace courtyard (not a photo of the actual event or palace) · AI-generated illustration
What actually happened (and what we do not know)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Show | KBS2 Immortal Songs, special “2026 Royal Culture Festival – The Palace Awakens the Arts” |
| Part 2 aired | Saturday, October 31, 2026, 6:05 pm (Korea time) |
| Where it was filmed | A special stage in front of Heungnyemun Gate, Gyeongbokgung |
| Part 2 line-up | Kim Chang-wan Band, Lyn, Lee Seung-gi, NMIXX, BOYNEXTDOOR, ATEEZ |
The festival organizers’ announcement (September 3, 2026) listed an Immortal Songs eve performance at Heungnyemun Square on October 6, the day before the 2026 Royal Culture Festival ran at the four palaces and Jongmyo Shrine from October 7 to 11. We did not find official details of song titles or stage outfits, so we do not describe them here.
Hours, closing day and tickets (official)
| Months | Opening hours | Last entry |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Feb, Nov–Dec | 09:00–17:00 | 16:00 |
| Mar–May, Sep–Oct | 09:00–18:00 | 17:00 |
| Jun–Aug | 09:00–18:30 | 17:30 |
Gyeongbokgung is closed every Tuesday. If a Tuesday is a public holiday, the palace opens and closes on the next non-holiday day instead. The heritage service says hours can be shortened for operational reasons, and staff start guiding visitors out 30 minutes before closing.
| Ticket (individual) | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult, foreign visitor aged 19–64 | KRW 3,000 |
| Group of 10 or more (per adult) | KRW 2,400 |
| Foreign visitor 18 or under, or 65 or over | Free (show ID) |
| Wearing hanbok | Free (rules below) |
| Royal palace pass: four palaces + Jongmyo | KRW 6,000, one entry each within 6 months (Huwon garden not included) |
Wednesday “Culture Day” discounts at other palaces do not apply to Gyeongbokgung. Fees and hours as of November 1, 2026.
Free entry in hanbok: what counts
The official guideline says both traditional and modern “daily-life” hanbok count, and foreign visitors are included. What matters is the shape:
| Accepted | Not accepted |
|---|---|
| A jacket (jeogori) with a wrap-over collar, plus a skirt or hanbok-style trousers | Only a long overcoat (durumagi) over other clothes |
| A jeogori without ties, if the collar wraps over | A T-shirt-style “hanbok” top |
| A jeogori with a wrap skirt, if the jacket reaches the waist | Jeogori with jeans, or hanbok trousers with a T-shirt |
| A one-piece hanbok dress without a jeogori |
Royal guard changing ceremony
A Seoul city article (April 17, 2026) lists the guard changing ceremony at 10:00 and 14:00, about 20 minutes each, on the plaza and terrace (woldae) in front of Gwanghwamun, with the palace closed on Tuesdays. It is outside the ticket gate, so you can watch it before buying a ticket. Arrive 10–15 minutes early for a spot near the front.
Night opening: missed this autumn
The 2026 autumn night viewing ran from September 2 to October 2, 19:00–21:30 (last entry 20:30), closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, with online booking (Mediawatch, citing the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, August 18, 2026). It has ended. We did not find dates for the next season, so check the official Gyeongbokgung site before you plan an evening visit.
Getting there
| Route (official page) | Walk |
|---|---|
| Line 3, Gyeongbokgung Station, Exit 5 | About 2 minutes |
| Line 3, Anguk Station, Exit 1 | About 6 minutes |
| Line 5, Gwanghwamun Station, Exit 2 | About 6 minutes |
| Bus stop “Gyeongbokgung” | Trunk 109, 171, 272, 601, 606, 710 · branch 1020, 7025 |
Address: 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Gyeongbokgung office: +82-2-3700-3900. Taking a cab after dark? Our taxi and subway phrases in Korean help.
Keep the hanbok on: Bukchon, with one rule
Friends in hanbok on a hanok alley · AI-generated illustration
Bukchon Hanok Village is a short walk east of the palace, so you can keep your hanbok on for the walk. Seoul city’s notice says one part of Bukchon-ro 11-gil is a “red zone” closed to tourist visits from 17:00 to 10:00, with a KRW 100,000 fine, enforced since March 1, 2025. People live in these houses: go in daytime and keep voices low. Want more K-pop places in this area? See KPop Demon Hunters in Seoul: real vs inspired.
Where to stay near Gyeongbokgung
We picked hotels from Agoda’s partner data that are about 1 km or less from the Heungnyemun area (straight-line distance, our calculation) and have many guest reviews, mixing price levels. We have not stayed at them. Guest scores change, so check the current ones on Agoda.
🏨 See more Seoul hotels by date on Agoda
Coming in from Incheon Airport? Our airport bus guide covers hotels at limousine bus stops. Going to a concert while you are in Seoul? See where to stay for K-pop concerts in Seoul.
Bottom line
| If you… | Do this |
|---|---|
| Want the spot from the broadcast | Walk through Gwanghwamun to the Heungnyemun square |
| Want free entry | Rent or wear hanbok with a wrap-collar jeogori and a skirt or trousers |
| Visit in November or December | Arrive before 16:00 (last entry) and avoid Tuesdays |
| Want the guard ceremony | Be at Gwanghwamun before 10:00 or 14:00 |
| Want to sleep close by | Gwanghwamun or Insadong hotels, about 1 km away |
As of November 1, 2026. Broadcast details come from the Maeil Shinmun report; we did not watch the broadcast. Palace rules come from the official Royal Palaces and Tombs Center pages below and may change. Images in this post are AI-generated illustrations, not photos of ATEEZ, the broadcast or the real palace.
- Maeil Shinmun — Immortal Songs royal palace special, part 2 line-up (Oct 27, 2026)
- Taiwan News / PR Newswire — 2026 K-Royal Culture Festival, Oct 7–11 (Sept 3, 2026)
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center — opening hours and closing days
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center — admission fees and free admission
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center — hanbok free admission guideline
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center — directions to Gyeongbokgung
- Seoul Media Hub — Gwanghwamun guard changing ceremony (Apr 17, 2026)
- Mediawatch — Gyeongbokgung autumn night viewing, Sept 2–Oct 2 (Aug 18, 2026)
- Seoul city — Bukchon red zone notice
- Korea JoongAng Daily — Bukchon tourism curfew
