Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony

• Changing of the Guards Who Protect the Joseon Royal Palace
  The Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony takes place in front of Daehanmun, the main gate of Deoksugung Palace, every day at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM, except on Mondays. The "Royal Guard Changing Ceremony" is a reenactment of the ceremonial duties performed by the "Sumungun," the guards responsible for opening and closing the gates, as well as patrolling and securing the palace during the Joseon Dynasty. This event has been faithfully reproduced since 1996, following extensive research and verification by experts, and is comparable in grandeur and elegance to the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. During the Deoksugung Guard Changing Ceremony, two members of the cavalry lead the procession, followed by the Guard Commander (Sumunjang), the Royal Guards (Sumungun), the Seungjeongwon Juseo, the Naeuiwon Sayak, and the Chuiragun, in that order, with a total of 78 guards. Once all the guards have assembled to the beat of the drums played by the Chuiragun, the changing ceremony officially begins.

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• Key Info
  ● Guard Commander (Sumunjang) Affiliation: Sumunjeongcheong (Office of the Guard Commanders) Role: A military officer of the 6th rank responsible for guarding the palace gates and commanding the guards. ● Royal Guards (Sumungun) Affiliation: Sumunjeongcheong (Office of the Guard Commanders) Role: Ordinary soldiers, including sword bearers and flag bearers, who are responsible for guarding the palace gates. ● Seungjeongwon Juseo Affiliation: Seungjeongwon (Office for the Management of Royal Orders) Role: A 7th rank military officer responsible for managing royal orders and serving as the supervisor of the changing ceremony. ● Naeuiwon Sayak Affiliation: Naeuiwon (Office for the Management of Palace Instruments and Keys) Role: A 6th rank court official in charge of handing over the box containing the palace gate keys and supervising the changing ceremony. ● Chuiragun Affiliation: Jangakcheong (Office of Music and Dance) Role: Responsible for playing music during the marching of the guard change ceremony. ● Eomgosu Affiliation: Jangakcheong (Office of Music and Dance) Role: Responsible for signaling the guard change with drums during the ceremony.

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Details

Jung-gu, Sejongdaero 99, Seoul

Directions

• How to get there
  5-minute walk from City Hall Station Exit 2 (Line 1 and 2)
• Admission Fee -

  Free
• Period
  Open
• Opening hours
  Today 09:00 ~ 21:00