Jongmyo Shrine
종묘 · Palace · Seoul
Solemn, empty, beautiful. Check the English tour time at the gate before buying a ticket.
K-drama filming location
- Kingdom (킹덤, 2019, Netflix) — starring Ju Ji-hoon, Bae Doona. A Joseon-era zombie thriller: the crown prince fights a plague and a palace plot. Filmed here: Season 2 scenes at Jeongjeon Hall.
In the latter part of Season 2, Seo-bi (Bae Doo-na) manages to rescue the queen’s baby … This place is called “Jeongjeon Hall” of “Jongmyo Shrine.”
Source: VISITSEOUL
Live crowd levels for Seoul, 14-day forecast elsewhere. No sign-up.
- Admission
- ₩1,000
- Opening hours
- 09:00 – 18:00Weekdays: guided tour only · Sat/Sun & last Wed: free roaming
- Closed
- Tuesdays
- Quietest day
- Thursday — about 2% fewer foreign visitors than an average dayBusiest: Saturday. Based on Korea Tourism Data Lab foreign-visitor counts for Jongno-gu, Seoul.
- Payment
- Cards accepted
- English
- Signs and staff in English
- Nearest subway
- Jongno 3-ga Station (종로3가역) · Line 1, 3, 5About 5 minutes on foot
- Parking
- AvailableKorea Tourism Organization
- Fee checked
- 2026-09
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When to go
Jongmyo Shrine is closed on Tuesdays. Arriving on a closing day is the most common way to lose a morning in Korea, and the gate will not make an exception for a visitor who has come a long way.
Counting foreign visitors to Jongno-gu, Seoul over twelve weeks, Thursday is the quietest day you can actually go and Saturday the busiest — a difference of about 11%. Tuesday is quieter still, but that is a closing day. These are district-wide figures rather than a headcount at the gate, so treat them as a tendency.
Opening hours are 09:00 to 18:00. Weekdays: guided tour only · Sat/Sun & last Wed: free roaming. 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 ₩1,000. 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.
Getting there
The nearest subway stop is Jongno 3-ga (종로3가역) on Line 1 and 3 and 5, about 5 minutes on foot. Seoul's subway signs and announcements are in English, and a T-money card bought at any convenience store works on every line and bus.
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
Gwangjang Market is 706 m away. The oldest market food alley in Seoul, and still the busiest. Everything is cooked in front of you.
- Mung bean pancake 빈대떡 ₩5,000–8,000
- Mini seaweed rolls 마약김밥 ₩3,000–5,000
- Raw beef 육회 ₩15,000–25,000
Myeong-dong is 1.5 km away. Street-food carts line the main streets from late afternoon. Easiest place to try many things in one walk.
- Tornado potato 회오리감자 ₩4,000–5,000
- Grilled cheese lobster 치즈랍스터 ₩15,000–20,000
- Egg bread 계란빵 ₩2,000–3,000
Prices are per person and were checked in September 2026. Market stalls are often cash-only even where restaurants take cards.
Near here
- Ikseon-dong Hanok Street361 m
- Changgyeonggung Palace501 m
- Changdeokgung Palace605 m
- Gwangjang Market706 m
- Insadong714 m