Korea Now

Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond

동궁과 월지 · Palace · Gyeongsang

Go after sunset. The reflection of the pavilions in the pond is the photo everyone comes for.

K-drama filming location

Princess Hours (궁, 2006, MBC) — starring Yoon Eun-hye, Ju Ji-hoon. A modern Korea that still has a royal family: a high-school girl marries the crown prince. Filmed here: The royal family's garden. The drama “Princess Hours,” set in a fictional monarchy descended from the Joseon Dynasty, … Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond appeared as the royal family’s private garden… Source: Korea Times

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Admission: ₩3,000
Opening hours: 09:00 – 22:00
Closed: Open daily
Quietest day: Monday — about 3% fewer foreign visitors than an average dayBusiest: Friday. Based on Korea Tourism Data Lab foreign-visitor counts for Gyeongju.
Payment: Cards accepted
English: English signs, some staff
Parking: AvailableKorea Tourism Organization
Fee checked: 2026-09

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Show this to a taxi driver — 동궁과 월지

When to go

There is no weekly closing day here — you can come any day of the week.

Counting foreign visitors to Gyeongju over twelve weeks, Monday is the quietest day you can actually go and Friday the busiest — a difference of about 8%. These are district-wide figures rather than a headcount at the gate, so treat them as a tendency.

Opening hours are 09:00 to 22:00. It stays open into the evening, which is usually the calmest and coolest time to come. Tour groups tend to arrive mid-morning and again after lunch; the first hour after opening is normally the quietest stretch of any day.

What it costs, and what to bring

Adult admission is ₩3,000. By the standards of most countries this is very cheap, and it is charged at the gate rather than online, so there is no need to book ahead.

Cards are accepted. Foreign Visa and Mastercard work almost everywhere in Korea, and contactless is normal.

English signage is partial — enough to find your way, not enough to explain what you are looking at. The Korean name above is worth showing to a taxi driver or a passer-by; it works better than pronouncing it.

Getting there

There is no subway station close by. A taxi or an intercity bus is usually the way in — show the Korean name above to the driver.

Google Maps · Naver Map · Kakao Map

Google Maps shows public transport in Korea but not walking routes. Naver or Kakao Map gives walking directions.

Eat nearby

Daereungwon Tomb Complex is 1.4 km away. Gyeongju’s old town around the royal tombs. Its famous bean-paste bun was first baked on this street, and a leaf-wrap rice street lines the tombs.

Hwangnam bun 황남빵 ₩1,000–2,000
Leaf-wrap rice set 쌈밥 정식 ₩13,000–20,000
Barley bread 찰보리빵 ₩1,000–2,000

Prices are per person and were checked in September 2026. Market stalls are often cash-only even where restaurants take cards.

Near here

기획·제작 지음웍스 · jieumworks.com · 2026년 9월