Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changgyeonggung Palace will be opened at night, the maximum number of visitors per day will be limited, and safety management will be strengthened
The Cultural Heritage Administration (Director Byun Young-seop) decided to limit the maximum number of visitors per day and significantly strengthen safety management as the number of visitors to Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changgyeonggung Palace, which are open at night every spring and fall.
From the opening at night this fall, the maximum number of visitors per day will be limited to 1,500 (1,000 Internet sales, 500 on-site sales / all paid). In addition, in order to maintain viewing order and manage safety, measures will be prepared to increase safety management personnel such as viewing guidance personnel and administrative support personnel composed of volunteers.
Cooperation systems with related agencies such as the National Police Agency and the National Emergency Management Agency will also be strengthened. With the cooperation of these related agencies, the government plans to check at the entrance to prevent visitors from entering the palace with flammable substances or alcohol, and ban street stalls around Gwanghwamun.
However, it plans to gradually increase the opening period at night so that the number of visitors does not reduce the opportunity for people to enjoy cultural heritage. In the fall (October) of this year, the opening period at night, which has been in effect for five days, will be extended by seven days to open for 12 days. In addition, from next year, it plans to open not only in spring (May) and autumn (October) but also in summer (August) and winter (January), greatly increasing the opening period of a total of 10 days per year to a total of 48 days.
Initially, the number of visitors to the night opening was not limited so that many people could enjoy the beautiful night atmosphere of the old palace. However, as the number of visitors surged in May, some visitors drank, ate, or street vendors used liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for food cooking on the sidewalk of Gwanghwamun Square, the number of visitors was limited and safety management was strengthened.
▶ Compared to 2012, the number of visitors to the spring (May) at night in 2013 increased
- Gyeongbokgung Palace increased by 73,230 (68.5%; 108,283 → 182,513)
- Changgyeonggung Palace increased by 147,382 (1,707%, 8,635 → 156,017)
Meanwhile, the Cultural Heritage Administration will openly recruit volunteers to work during the night opening period this fall (October) at Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changgyeonggung Palace from the 29th to August 31st. Volunteers are mainly recruited with the cooperation of old palace volunteer groups such as our palace guards and palace gillagers, and are "one guardian of one cultural property" companies?General volunteers such as organizations and individuals also receive applications. More than 1,000 people will be active during the night opening period.
When selected, general volunteers for open recruitment receive simple training such as the history of the old palace and safety management tips, and patrol the night opening site or guide the viewing route. Those who wish to volunteer will be selected after self-examination by each palace management center if they apply by writing their personal information (name, date of birth, occupation, volunteer experience, contact information, etc.) on the website of the palace management center. If you have any other questions, please contact the phone number below.
▶ volunteer application
- - 경복궁 http://www.royalpalace.go.kr / 창경궁 http://goo.gl/Vlko0u
▶ Contact Us
- Gyeongbokgung Palace Management Office ☎ 02-3700-3900-3901, 3916 / Changgyeonggung Palace Management Office ☎ 02-2172-0104