Some of them, and it is changing during 2026. Korea's Culture Day programme used to mean free admission to the royal palaces on the last Wednesday of each month. That is being expanded to every Wednesday, with the royal sites phased in one at a time rather than all at once — and Gyeongbokgung, the one most visitors want, is the one still waiting.
Where it stands
| Site | Free every Wednesday? |
|---|---|
| Deoksugung 덕수궁 | Yes, since August 2026 |
| Changdeokgung 창덕궁 | From October 2026 |
| Changgyeonggung 창경궁 | From October 2026 |
| Jongmyo Shrine 종묘 | From October 2026 |
| Joseon Royal Tombs | Yes, since May 2026 |
| Gyeongbokgung 경복궁 | Not yet — no start date announced |
The Korea Heritage Service has held Gyeongbokgung back over visitor numbers, crowding and safety, and says the expansion there is still under review.
So on a Wednesday you may well walk into Changdeokgung free while still paying at Gyeongbokgung. Do not plan on the whole day costing nothing.
The Secret Garden is separate
Changdeokgung's Huwon 후원 — the Secret Garden, and the best part of the complex — is ticketed separately from palace admission, entry is by timed guided tour with limited numbers, and it must be booked in advance. Free palace admission does not necessarily include it. The English-language tours in particular sell out.
The ticket to buy instead
If you are visiting more than one palace, the Integrated Palace Ticket 통합관람권 costs ₩6,000 and covers all four palaces plus Jongmyo Shrine, one visit each, valid six months. Separate tickets for just two palaces cost more than that, so it pays for itself immediately.
The other free option: hanbok
Wearing hanbok 한복 gets you free admission to the royal palaces on any day. Rental shops surround Gyeongbokgung, and two hours of rental costs roughly what the ticket does — so it is close to free either way, and the photographs are why most people do it.
The closing days matter more than the free days
This is the part that actually ruins itineraries:
- Gyeongbokgung closes every Tuesday.
- Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung close every Monday.
If your plan visits Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung on the same day, there is no Monday or Tuesday on which it works. Wednesday is the best day of the week for a palace day — both are open, and depending on the month, one of them may be free.
Check before you go
Culture Day is actively being expanded, site by site, through 2026. Confirm the current position with the Korea Heritage Service for your travel dates rather than trusting any guide, including this one.
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