Gyeongbok Palace to offer night tours

Night tours at Gyeongbok Palace, one of the royal palaces in Seoul, will begin on the first day of September, the Cultural Heritage Administration said Thursday.

Set to run from Sept. 1 to 17, the "Starlight Tour with Daejanggeum" will include a Korean traditional music performance and a 12-plate royal dinner.

The visitors will be treated as if they were invited to dine with the king of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), according to the state culture agency.

"Daejanggeum" is the title character of the popular Korean TV series about an orphaned kitchen cook who becomes the king's first female physician.

The guided tour starts after supper. Led by a tour guide in traditional costume, visitors will explore "Gyotaejeon," or the queen's office, and "Hamhwadang" and "Jibgyeongdang," the queen's two royal chambers.

The tour includes a stop by "Hyangwonjeong," which is a small pavilion built on the royal pond. "Jibokjae," a meeting room for foreign delegates; "Gyeonghoeru," the royal banquet hall; and "Geunjeongjeon," the imperial throne hall, will also be shown.

"The night tour will offer a precious opportunity for visitors to enter Gyeonghoeru and enjoy its reflection on the pond," a CHA official said.

The Gyeongbok Palace night tour will run twice every day, except on Sept. 6 and 13. Each tour accommodates up to 120 visitors.

Tickets can be purchased through the e-commerce website Auction (http://www.auction.co.kr) starting at 2 p.m. on Friday. Senior visitors uncomfortable with online reservations can reach the ticket box office at 1566-1369.  (Yonhap)