2023 Fall festivals you must visit in Seoul Korea

Korea is known for hosting various exciting festivals though out the year. While some festivals may remain consistent from year to year, new ones may also emerge. Here are some fall festivals you must visit in Seoul Korea that you could enjoy in their beautiful palace.

1. Gyeongbok Palace Starlight Night Tour

Festival period: 2023.09.08 ~ 2023.10.08

2023.09.08 ~ 2023.10.08

Location: Gyeongbokgung (Gyeongbok Palace), 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Price: Regular seat 60,000 won / Restricted view seat 55,000 won

Company: Palace Relics Headquarters, Cultural Heritage Administration/Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation

Official website: https://www.royalpalace.go.kr:8443/html/eng_gbg/main/main.jsp

The Gyeongbok palace Starlight Night Tour is a program that explores the northern part of Gyeongbok Palace at night while enjoying royal food experience and Korean traditional music performance.

On a deep fall night at Gyeongbok Palace, under the soft starlight, you can enjoy a traditional Korean music performance in the Soju Room of Gyeongbok Palace, taste the King’s Surasang(Kings food), and go on a starlight walk at Gyeongbok Palace with a professional interpreter.

Event details

1.Gyeongbok Palace Outer Kitchen

(Dojeoksurasang royal food experience and Korean traditional music performance)

Gyeongbok Palace Janggo (Janggomama and Nine’s Little Play)
Gyeongbok Palace Jipokjae/Palwoojeong/Geoncheong palace (pavilion description)
Gyeongbok Palace Hyangwonjeong (special viewing across Chwihyanggyo Bridge)

About Gyeongbokgung

Gyeongbokgung (Korean: 경복궁; Hanja: 景福宮), also known as Gyeongbokgung

Palace or Gyeongbok Palace, was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty.
Built in 1395, it is located in northern Seoul, South Korea. The largest of the
Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon dynasty, Gyeongbokgung served as the
home of the royal family and the seat of government.

Gyeongbokgung Palace, located in north of Gwanghwamun Square, was built three years after the Joseon dynasty was founded and it served as its main palace.[5] With the mountain Bugaksan behind it and the Street of Six Ministries (today’s Sejongno) outside Gwanghwamun Gate, the main entrance to the palace, Gyeongbokgung was situated in the heart of the Korean capital city. It was steadily expanded before being reduced to ashes
during the Japanese invasion of 1592. Since the 1990s, the walled palace complex is gradually being restored to its original form. It also houses the National Palace Museum and the National Folk Museum within the premises of the complex.

2. Changdeok Palace Moonlight Tour

Fall festival period: 2023.09.07 ~ 2023.10.22

Location: Changdeokgung (Changdeok palace), 99 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Price: 30,000 won per person

Company: Palace Relics Headquarters, Cultural Heritage Administration/Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation

Official website: https://www.cdg.go.kr/eng/

About Changdeokgung

The Changdeok Palace Moonlight Tour is a representative high-class cultural event held at Changdeok Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Changdeokgung (Korean: 창덕궁; lit. The Palace of Prospering Virtue), also known as Changdeokgung Palace or Changdeok Palace, is set within a large park in Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the “Five Grand Palaces” built by the kings of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897). As it is located east of Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeokgung—along with Changgyeonggung—is also referred to as the “East Palace” (동궐; 東闕; Donggwol).

The Changdeokgung Palace Moonlight Tour is a program that allows you to tour various parts of the palace with a professional interpreter at Changdeokgung Palace, surrounded by greenery under the moonlight, and enjoy commentary on each building and traditional art performances.

Starting from Donhwamun, the main gate of Changdeokgung Palace, it moves through Jinseonmun, Injeongjeon, Huijeongdang, Nakseonjae, Sangnyangjeong, Buyongji, Bullomun, Aeryeonjeong, Yeongyeongdang, and the back garden forest path, providing a special impression that can only be experienced on a moonlight tour of Changdeokgung Palace.

Event details

Event time: Part 1 19:20, Part 2 20:00 *100 minutes

Night tour of Changdeokgung Palace and viewing of traditional art performances

Number of participants: 150 people per day / Participation fee: 30,000 won per person

Program introduction

-Night tour: A night tour where you can naturally experience the history, culture, and landscape of Changdeokgung Palace through the narrator’s stories

-Specialized traditional art performances for each location (Sangnyangjeong, Yeonghwadang, Yeongyeongdang)

-Guided commentary: Moonlight tour

-Tour route

: Donhwamun → Jinseonmun → Injeongjeon → Huijeongdang → Nakseonjae → Sangnyangjeong → Buyongji → Aeryeonjeong and Aeryeonji → Yeongyeongdang → Huwon Forest Trail → Donhwamun Bar. Host/Organizer: Palace Relics Headquarters of the Cultural Heritage Administration/Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation

Please note that the dates and details of these festivals may vary from year to year, so it’s always a good idea to check the latest information before planning your visit.