Two royal palaces to open at night, free for visitors in 'hanbok'

Any visitor wearing hanbok or Korean traditional attire will be admitted for free at two royal palaces in Seoul which will open to the public at night late this month, the Cultural Heritage Administration said Thursday.

The administration said that the night viewing of Gyeongbok and Changgyeong palaces of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) will open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. from April 30 to June 2.

The two palaces are among the capital's five palaces from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The others are Deoksu, Changdeok and Gyeonghui.

According to the administration, a royal cultural festival will be held at Gyeongbok Palace from April 30 to May 8, in which an illuminated "media facade show" will be shown on the outer walls of structures there.

A series of performances by royal dance troupes from Thailand, Japan and Vietnam will be held at the palace while a concert of traditional Korean and Western music will also be held at the palace's Gyeonghoeru, or the "pavilion of joyous meeting," which is considered the largest pavilion structure built during the Joseon Dynasty.

Meanwhile, a play will take place at Changgyeong Palace to shed light on the life of King Injo, the 16th king of Joseon who failed to decide which side he would support between Ching, the emerging power in China, and Ming, the declining power, facing an invasion by Ching.

Tickets are available at Auction and Interpark ticket websites from 2 p.m. of April 20. (Yonhap)