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Free palace entry and nationwide events set for Children’s Day
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By
Lee Kyung-min
Published
Apr 24, 2026 3:31 pm
KST
Visitors wearing hanbok, or traditional Korean clothing, pose at Gyeongbok Palace in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, April 16. Yonhap
Families across Korea will be invited to step inside royal palaces and heritage sites for free Monday, as the government rolls out a wide slate of Children’s Day programs designed to turn history into hands-on play.
The Korea Heritage Service said Friday that children under 12, accompanied by up to two guardians, will receive free admission to the four main palaces — Gyeongbok, Changdeok, Deoksu and Changgyeong — as well as Jongmyo Shrine and the royal tombs of the Joseon Dynasty on May 5.
At Gyeongbok Palace, a special Children’s Day program centered on the royal guard-changing ceremony will unfold near Gwanghwamun. Activities include a costumed guard ritual featuring character mascots and an interactive experience simulating the selection exam for Joseon-era professional soldiers. Participants will be admitted free of charge, with some sessions requiring advance or on-site registration.
In Daejeon, the Natural Heritage Center will host a full-day event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering rare access to geological and biological storage facilities, along with quizzes, photo missions and hands-on exhibits. Organizers said visitors can explore normally restricted collections and join family-oriented competitions.
Additional events include traditional folk games and a children’s musical at the National Intangible Heritage Center in Jeonju, marine-themed craft programs in Taean and Mokpo, and artifact restoration experiences in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province.
Visitors to Chilbaegui Chong in Geumsan, South Chungcheong Province, between Thursday and Monday will receive craft kits to make decorative fans using mother-of-pearl designs.
The agency said it aims to make national heritage more accessible through interactive programs that blend education and recreation for families.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
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