Royal palace festival to offer better access for anniversary

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the annual K-Royal Culture Festival will offer more convenient access to visitors.

For the first time, foreign nationals will be able to buy tickets themselves online via a designated link for the annual event involving the five main palaces in Seoul connected with the Joseon era (1392-1910), according to the Cultural Heritage Administration on Monday.

The CHA is also planning to sell 10,000 all-pass tickets, up from the previous 1,000. The all-pass ticket offers unlimited access to the five places through the festival, which is held twice each in spring and autumn.

“We will try a new program like a traditional flea market in Gyeongbokgung,” the agency said in a press release, citing the main palace. A craft exhibition will take place at Changdeokgung, it added, pointing to another Joseon-era palace nearby.

The festival will run twice: from April 27 to May 5 and from Oct. 9 to Oct. 13. Nighttime tours will be available for the first time at Changgyeonggung during the spring season, after a successful trial run last year, according to the CHA. Such tours are currently offered at Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung and Deoksugung.

“The nighttime program will be different from all the others we’ve seen as we will be introducing some cutting-edge technologies like theatrical lighting to entertain guests,” a CHA official said.