Which day each Seoul palace closes, and the holiday rule
궁의 정기 휴일과 공휴일 규칙
Each of Seoul's main palaces and Jongmyo Shrine closes on one fixed weekday, and not all on the same day. When that day is a public or substitute holiday the palace opens instead and closes on the next day that is not a holiday (Royal Palaces and Tombs Center hours page, checked Sep 2026).
| Place | Closed | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Changdeokgung Palace 창덕궁 | Mon | Sep 2026 |
| Changgyeonggung Palace 창경궁 | Mon | Sep 2026 |
| Deoksugung Palace 덕수궁 | Mon | Sep 2026 |
| Gyeongbokgung Palace 경복궁 | Tue | Sep 2026 |
| Gyeonghuigung Palace 경희궁 | Mon | Sep 2026 |
| Jongmyo Shrine 종묘 | Tue | Sep 2026 |
Why this trips people up
A traveler who plans around "palaces are closed on Mondays" can still find a gate shut on a Tuesday after a long weekend, because the Monday closure moved. The reverse also happens: a palace that normally closes that day is open on the holiday itself.
How the app shows it
The table on this card is built from each palace's checked closing-day rule, so it changes when the official rule does. Each palace page lists its regular closing day and applies the holiday rule to the Korean public holiday calendar. Under Hours you will see a short "Coming up" list with the next dates that differ from the usual week, for example a Monday holiday when the palace opens and the Tuesday it closes instead. If today is one of those days, the status line says so.
Hours also change with the season at most palaces, and the last entry is usually an hour before closing. Staff start guiding visitors out about 30 minutes before closing time.
Before you go
The center notes that hours can be shortened for operational reasons. Special night openings and events are announced separately and are not part of these regular hours.