Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식)

2.1Km 2024-11-28

99, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-2-737-6444

Deoksugung Palace has held a guard changing ceremony since 1996 after thorough historical research by leading historians. The ceremony, which is held in front of Daehanmun Gate of Deoksugung Palace, is a tradition similar to the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace and offers a rare opportunity to experience royal culture. The royal gate is opened and closed at pre-determined times, and the gatekeepers in charge of guard duty and patrols hold a shift ceremony three times a day.

The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is a highly recommended event for tourists. It is held three times a day, with each ceremony following the same procedure and lasts for forty minutes to an hour, and the ceremony is free of charge. There are no ceremonies on Mondays as well as on severely cold or hot days.

As the ceremony begins, the changing of the guards commences replete with traditional musical instruments, and exchanges a password for verification. An eight-minute guard ceremony ensues, followed by a seven-minute change ceremony, and finally a patrol that completes the ceremony. The procedure takes a dramatic turn when 18 guards in six official positions beat a drum and bellow some orders.

The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is a great opportunity to experience a rare traditional scene. The guards’ splendid costumes, with their brilliant primary colors, are a pleasure to view. Once the ceremony is over, visitors can take pictures with the gatekeepers.

Charles & Keith - NOON SQUARE Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (찰스앤키스 눈스퀘어)

2.1Km 2024-04-18

2F, 14, Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

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Myeongdong Beer Festival (명동맥주페스티벌)

2.1Km 2025-05-20

14, Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-70-8670-2182

Myeongdong Beer Festival provide a chance to find one's preference through beer. Enjoy the cool fall weather with fun people all around.

Åland - NOON SQUARE Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (에어랜드눈스퀘어점)

2.1Km 2024-06-27

14, Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul

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Buam-dong Gaeyeoalsa (부암동 계열사)

2.2Km 2024-02-21

7 Baekseokdong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Buam-dong Gaeyeoalsa is a chicken place that has received recognition in the Blue Ribbon Survey, the first restaurant guide in Korea. The representative menu is the fried chicken served in a bamboo tray with wedge potatoes. The chicken has a thin and crispy coating. Nearby attractions include the Yun Dongju Hill (Cheongun Park) and the Yun Dong-ju Literary Museum, dedicated to the poet beloved by Koreans.

PAIK's NOODLE Myeongdong (홍콩반점0410(명동점))

2.2Km 2024-03-08

13, Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
02-778-0410

Located in Myeongdong Street, PAIK's NOODLE is a Chinese restaurant that serves Korean-style Chinese cuisine. The price is affordable so that both Koreans and foreigners can easily enjoy chinese dishes. The restaurant focus on jjajang myeon (black bean sauce noodles) and jjamppong (Spicy seafood noodle soup). It's a great place to grab a bite to eat when you're hungry while sightseeing in Myeongdong.

Jungmyeongjeon Hall (중명전)

2.2Km 2025-01-09

41-11, Jeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-752-7525

Located near Deoksugung Palace, Jungmyeongjeon Hall is a red-brick modern Western-style building. It was built in 1899 as the imperial library of the Korean Empire. After Deoksugung Palace caught on fire in 1904, the place became the temporary residence of Emperor Gojong. It also witnessed the tragic part of history in which the infamous Eulsa Treaty (Japan-Korea Protectorate Treaty), an illegal treaty forced by Japan, was signed in 1905. Its exhibition hall serves as a place for historical education.

Mok In Museum Mok Seok Won (목인박물관 목석원)

2.2Km 2021-09-01

46-1, Changuimun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-722-5066

Mok In Museum Mok Seok Won relocated in 2019 from Insa-dong to Buam-dong. Six exhibition halls offer visitors a look at wooden figures from around the world. Mokin refers to traditional wooden sculptures carved in shapes of human figures or various animals. The museum holds around 12,000 wooden folk sculptures including those used to decorate funeral carriages and temples mostly from the Joseon dynasty up to modern times. The museum also has an outdoor exhibition hall that harmonizes the sculptures with nature.

NOON Square (눈스퀘어)

2.2Km 2020-05-07

14, Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3783-5005

NOON Square is a large shopping complex located at the center of Myeong-dong, known as a mecca of fashion and culture. It features a wide range of both domestic and international fashion brands. The highlight of NOON Square is Level 5 located on the 5th floor. Level 5 is designed with a concept of "multi-shop within multi-shop," featuring unique and original fashion goods designed by new independent designers. In addition, NOON Square is the first venue in Korea to install an outdoor escalator.

H&M - Myeongdong Branch No.1 (H&M - 명동1호점)

2.2Km 2015-12-18

14, Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3783-4881

H&M, established in Sweden in 1947, is a global fashion brand with more than 2,000 stores in over 35 countries throughout the world. There are currently three H&M stores in Korea.

The H&M Myeongdong branch no.1 occupies four floors, each with a unique interior, inside Noon Square (shopping mall). It sells a wide variety of clothes and other fashion items for women, men and children. It also introduces new designs and items by over 100 designers every day.

Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식) - Area information - Korea travel information