Jongmyo Shrine

문화재청 · KOGL Type 1

Where the spirit tablets of the Joseon kings are kept: one long wooden hall, so bare it becomes solemn.

Jongmyo has no statues, no paintings, no gilding. Only Jeongjeon — a wooden colonnade over a hundred metres long with nineteen closed doors, each holding the tablets of one king and queen. The stone path in is split into three lanes: the raised middle one is for the spirits, the living walk to either side. The emptiness is deliberate; Confucian architecture uses proportion and silence instead of ornament. Each May the Jongmyo Jerye rite is performed exactly as it was in the 15th century, with court musicians and black-hatted dancers moving as slowly as clockwork.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Jongmyo Shrine?

May (the Jongmyo Jerye rite) and October–November

How much does it cost to visit Jongmyo Shrine?

1,000 KRW (free under 19 and over 65)

How long do you need at Jongmyo Shrine?

1–1.5 hours

What are the opening hours of Jongmyo Shrine?

09:00–18:00 (to 17:30 Nov–Jan, to 18:30 Jun–Aug), closed Tuesdays

Did you know

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
Jeongjeon hall is about 101m long — the longest traditional wooden building in Asia.
The Jongmyo Jerye rite and its Jeryeak music are on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
On weekdays entry is by guided tour only; Saturdays are free-roaming.
It was once joined to Changdeokgung by a strip of forest, now restored as a footbridge.

Travel tips

Check the tour timetable by language before you go — English slots are limited.
Come on a Saturday if you want to wander and linger in the Jeongjeon courtyard.
Pair it with Changdeokgung; the two are a footbridge apart.

Source: https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/contents/contentsView.do?vcontsId=94412

Updated: 2026-08-04