At a glance
| Days | Wed–MonAll year |
|---|---|
| Schedule | Changing of the guard at 10:00 and 14:00, about 20 minutes each, in the forecourt between Gwanghwamun and Heungnyemun gates and on the terrace in front of Gwanghwamun. Gwanghwamun gate-guard ceremony at 11:00 and 13:00, about 10 minutes each. Public training of the guard soldiers outside Hyeopsaengmun Gate at 09:35 and 13:35, about 15 minutes each. Guards stand duty at the gate between the shows, with photo time and a guard-uniform try-on before and after the ceremonies. The times are the same all year; in winter (December–February) and summer (July–August) the gate-guard ceremony is shortened on very cold or very hot days, while the changing ceremony goes ahead as normal.From Thursday 29 October to Sunday 1 November 2026 the changing ceremony is not held, because the Cheopjong royal guard review takes over Heungnyemun Plaza (30 Oct–1 Nov at 11:00 and 14:00, about 45 minutes, free, no booking; public rehearsal on 29 Oct at the same times); on those four days a Gwanghwamun watch ceremony runs instead at 10:00 and 13:00 on the Gwanghwamun terrace. In 2026 the whole programme (ceremony, gate-guard ceremony, training, guard duty and photo time) was suspended from 5 August under the new extreme-heat warning, the first suspension since the ceremony began, and resumed on 9 August according to a news summary. The guards change into winter dress in December (from 1 December in 2021). |
| Not held | Tuesdays, when Gyeongbokgung is closed. In rain or snow the ceremonies are not held and only a reduced guard-on-duty at Heungnyemun takes place; times can change at short notice. Every part of the programme stops while an extreme-heat warning (폭염중대경보) is in force, as it did from 5 August 2026. No changing ceremony 29 October–1 November 2026 (Cheopjong guard review; Gwanghwamun watch ceremony at 10:00 and 13:00 instead). |
| Admission | Free to watch, with no ticket. Gyeongbokgung Palace admission is separate: ₩3,000 for adults; free for visitors in hanbok, foreigners aged 18 and under, Koreans aged 24 and under and everyone 65 and over.Entry to watch the ceremonies: Free · Gyeongbokgung Palace admission (optional, to go on into the palace), adult: ₩3,000 |
| Venue | Gwanghwamun Gate and Heungnyemun forecourt, Gyeongbokgung Palace서울특별시 종로구 사직로 161 경복궁 |
| Nearest station | Gyeongbokgung Station (경복궁역), Seoul Subway Line 3, Exit 5About 3–5 minutes to the palace (travel guides); the ceremony is at Gwanghwamun and in the Heungnyemun forecourt |
| From Seoul | In Seoul · SubwayFull route |
| Organizer | Korea Heritage Service, Royal Palaces and Tombs Center (host); National Heritage Promotion Agency (organizer)국가유산청 궁능유적본부 (주최) · 국가유산진흥원 (주관) |
| First held | 2002 |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026Checked against 22 sources · See sources |
What it is like
Under the Joseon dynasty, the gates of the royal palaces were kept by a guard commander, the sumunjang, and his soldiers, who checked everyone going in and out and opened and closed the gates at set hours; the Veritable Records date the post to 1469. Since 2002 the national heritage agency has re-enacted the change of watch at Gyeongbokgung, the dynasty's main palace, with costumes and weapons modelled on soldiers of the early Joseon period. It is now run by the Korea Heritage Service's Royal Palaces and Tombs Center with the National Heritage Promotion Agency (formerly the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation).
The day follows a fixed pattern. At 09:35 and 13:35 the guard soldiers hold a public training session outside Hyeopsaengmun Gate, about 15 minutes long. At 10:00 and 14:00 comes the main changing ceremony, about 20 minutes, in the forecourt between Gwanghwamun, the main gate, and Heungnyemun, the next gate in; since 2023 it also uses the restored Woldae, the stone terrace in front of Gwanghwamun. At 11:00 and 13:00 a shorter gate-guard ceremony (파수의식), about 10 minutes, inspects and relieves the guards posted at Gwanghwamun. Between the shows, guards stand duty at the gate, and visitors can take photos with them and try on a guard's uniform before and after the ceremonies.
The ceremony itself is easy to follow. The guards march in through Hyeopsaengmun, a large drum signals the start, and the incoming commander leads his soldiers, flag bearers and a drum-and-brass band (chwitadae) to the gate. The two commanders exchange passwords and formal courtesies, the watch changes, and the outgoing guard marches off to the sound of the band. A visitor in 2026 heard commentary in Korean, English and Japanese.
Watching is free and needs no booking. You need a palace ticket only to go on through Heungnyemun into Gyeongbokgung: ₩3,000 for adults, and free for anyone in hanbok, foreigners aged 18 and under and everyone 65 and over.
The honest caveats: there is no ceremony on Tuesdays, when the palace is closed; in rain or snow it is replaced by a reduced guard-on-duty at Heungnyemun; and on very hot or cold days in summer and winter the gate-guard ceremony is shortened. When the new extreme-heat warning was issued on 5 August 2026, the whole programme stopped for the first time since it began, returning a few days later. This is also not the guard ceremony at Deoksugung's Daehanmun Gate, which Seoul city runs separately, with different times and a different closed day.
Highlights
- Changing of the guard at 10:00 and 14:00, about 20 minutes each, between Gwanghwamun and Heungnyemun gates, every day except Tuesday
- Gwanghwamun gate-guard ceremony (파수의식) at 11:00 and 13:00, about 10 minutes, when the guards posted at the main gate are inspected and relieved
- Public training of the guard soldiers outside Hyeopsaengmun Gate at 09:35 and 13:35, about 15 minutes
- Costumes and weapons modelled on early Joseon soldiers, with flag bearers and a chwitadae drum-and-brass band
- Photo time with the guards and a guard-uniform try-on before and after the ceremonies
- Since 2023 the ceremony also uses the restored Woldae, the stone terrace in front of Gwanghwamun
- Free to watch with no ticket; the palace itself costs ₩3,000 for adults and is free for visitors in hanbok
Who it suits. Good for first-time visitors to Seoul, families and photographers who want a free, colourful 20-minute show to pair with a visit to Gyeongbokgung; it fits easily into a morning or early afternoon. Not held on Tuesdays (see the Deoksugung ceremony that day instead) and much reduced in rain.
Getting there
From Seoul
Take Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station and leave by Exit 5, about 3–5 minutes' walk to the palace; or take Line 5 to Gwanghwamun Station, Exit 2, about 7 minutes' walk. From Seoul Station, ride Line 1 three stops to Jongno 3-ga and change to Line 3 for two stops to Gyeongbokgung, about 15 minutes on the trains. The ceremony takes place at Gwanghwamun, the palace's main gate at the north end of Gwanghwamun Square, and in the forecourt behind it in front of Heungnyemun.
From Busan
KTX from Busan Station to Seoul Station, about 2 h 30 min (standard fare ₩54,400 since 1 September 2026), then Line 1 three stops to Jongno 3-ga and Line 3 two stops to Gyeongbokgung Station, Exit 5.
From Incheon Airport
AREX to Seoul Station, then Line 1 three stops to Jongno 3-ga and Line 3 two stops to Gyeongbokgung Station, Exit 5.
Last leg from Gyeongbokgung Station
Seoul Subway Line 3, Exit 5. About 3–5 minutes to the palace (travel guides); the ceremony is at Gwanghwamun and in the Heungnyemun forecourt
Getting home
Not a concern: the last show of the day is the 14:00 changing ceremony.
How to switch Naver Map and Kakao Map to English
Google Maps shows train, subway and bus routes in Korea but not walking or driving directions yet, so for the walk from the station Naver Map or Kakao Map is more reliable.
Before you go
1330 · Travel hotline
The Korea Tourism Organization’s helpline answers in English, Japanese and Chinese around the clock, and in several other languages from 08:00 to 19:00. Dial 1330 from a Korean phone, or +82-2-1330 from a phone registered abroad.
112 / 119 · Emergencies
112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance. Both are free from any phone. Police on 112 can add an English or Chinese interpreter to the call.
T-money card
Buy one at a convenience store such as GS25, CU or 7-Eleven and top it up there with cash. It pays for subways and buses in most cities, and for most taxis.
Maps
Use Naver Map or Kakao Map for walking and bus directions; Google Maps does not yet give walking directions in Korea. Both apps can be switched to English. Naver Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → Language (Japanese and Chinese also available). Kakao Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → App settings → Language. If the option is missing, change your phone’s language and reopen the app. Small shop names and some reviews stay in Korean.
Trains and buses
Book trains on Korail’s English site and express buses on Kobus. Holiday weekends sell out first.
Checked 18 October 2026.
Tickets, prices and practical details
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Entry to watch the ceremonies | Free | No ticket or booking; the shows take place at Gwanghwamun and in the forecourt in front of Heungnyemun |
| Gyeongbokgung Palace admission (optional, to go on into the palace), adult | ₩3,000 | Free for visitors in hanbok, foreigners aged 18 and under, Koreans aged 24 and under and everyone 65 and over. A fee rise from 2027 was proposed in August 2026, but its timing was undecided as of 8 October 2026. |
- Booking
- No booking; just turn up at Gwanghwamun. Free information leaflets are available at the palace entrance. KTO's listing gives the enquiry number +82-2-3210-1645.
- English on site
- A visitor in 2026 heard live commentary in Korean, English and Japanese during the ceremony; the organizer does not publish which languages are used.
- Crowds
- Viewers line up along the marked line in the forecourt before each ceremony; in front of Gwanghwamun the crowd can block the view (visitor account, 2026).
- Best time to go
- Arrive for the 09:35 or 13:35 training, then stay for the 10:00 or 14:00 ceremony; the 10:00 one fits a morning in the palace, which opens at 09:00. Avoid Tuesdays.
- What to bring
- Hanbok if you plan to go into the palace afterwards (free entry); water and a hat in summer, when shade canopies stand in Heungnyemun Plaza; warm layers in winter, as you stand outdoors for 20 minutes or more.
- Rain
- In rain or snow the changing ceremony is not held and only a reduced guard-on-duty at Heungnyemun takes place; KTO notes that events may be cancelled in rain. Heavy rain, extreme heat or severe cold can also shorten or cancel a show, and an extreme-heat warning stops the whole programme.
Nearby
- Gyeongbokgung Starlight Tour (경복궁 별빛야행). Ticketed, small-group guided night tour of the palace's northern quarters with a royal-style dinner and traditional music, held in spring and autumn seasons; booked by lottery.
- Gwanghwamun Market (광화문 마켓). Seoul's free Christmas market of red-roofed stalls on Gwanghwamun Square, just outside the gate, every evening from mid-December into early January.
- Seoul Lantern Festival (서울빛초롱축제). Free winter lantern display along Cheonggyecheon stream, starting at Cheonggye Plaza south of Gwanghwamun Square, from mid-December into January.
- Deoksugung Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (서울 왕궁수문장 교대의식). Seoul city's separate guard ceremony at Daehanmun Gate, by City Hall: late Joseon costumes, a drum-beating experience and guard-costume try-on; the one to see on a Tuesday.
- National Palace Museum of Korea (국립고궁박물관). Museum of Joseon royal objects in the palace grounds beside Gyeongbokgung Station.
- Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour (창덕궁 달빛기행). Lantern-lit guided night walk through Changdeokgung Palace and its Secret Garden, held in spring and autumn; foreign visitors book separate sessions.
Questions travelers ask
What time is the changing of the guard at Gyeongbokgung?
At 10:00 and 14:00, every day except Tuesday, all year. Each ceremony lasts about 20 minutes. There is also a 10-minute gate-guard ceremony at Gwanghwamun at 11:00 and 13:00, and a 15-minute public training session outside Hyeopsaengmun Gate at 09:35 and 13:35. Exception: from 29 October to 1 November 2026 there is no changing ceremony; a Gwanghwamun watch ceremony runs at 10:00 and 13:00 on the terrace in front of Gwanghwamun, and the Cheopjong royal guard review is staged in Heungnyemun Plaza at 11:00 and 14:00 (30 Oct–1 Nov, with a public rehearsal on 29 Oct).
Is it free? Do I need a palace ticket?
It is free and needs no ticket or booking: the ceremony is staged at Gwanghwamun Gate and in the forecourt in front of Heungnyemun. You need a palace ticket only to go on into Gyeongbokgung: ₩3,000 for adults, and free if you wear hanbok, for foreigners aged 18 and under and for everyone 65 and over.
Is it held on Tuesdays?
No. Gyeongbokgung closes every Tuesday, and there is no ceremony. On a Tuesday you can see Seoul city's guard ceremony at Deoksugung's Daehanmun Gate instead, at 11:00 or 14:00; that one rests on Mondays.
Where is the best place to stand?
Along the marked viewing line in the forecourt between Gwanghwamun and Heungnyemun. A visitor in 2026 found the stretch nearer Heungnyemun gave the best view of the whole ceremony; standing in front of Gwanghwamun is better for close-ups of the guards marching past, but the crowd there can block the view.
What happens if it rains, or in very hot or cold weather?
In rain or snow the changing ceremony is not held and only a reduced guard-on-duty at Heungnyemun takes place. In winter (December–February) and summer (July–August) the gate-guard ceremony is shortened on very cold or hot days. Everything stops during an extreme-heat warning: in 2026 the programme was suspended from 5 August and returned on 9 August.
Can I take photos with the guards or try on the uniform?
Yes. There is photo time with the guards, and a guard-uniform try-on is offered before and after the ceremonies. Exact times and any limits are not published, so ask the staff on the day.
Is this the same as the guard ceremony at Deoksugung?
No. The Gyeongbokgung ceremony is run by the national Korea Heritage Service, recreates early Joseon guards and is not held on Tuesdays. The Seoul Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at Deoksugung's Daehanmun Gate, by City Hall, is run by Seoul city, recreates the late Joseon period, runs at 11:00 and 14:00 and rests on Mondays. Seoul also stages a gate-guard ritual at Sungnyemun, 10:00–15:40 except Mondays.
How do I get there?
Take Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station, Exit 5 (about 3–5 minutes' walk), or Line 5 to Gwanghwamun Station, Exit 2 (about 7 minutes). From Seoul Station allow about 20 minutes: Line 1 three stops to Jongno 3-ga, then Line 3 two stops to Gyeongbokgung.
What are Gyeongbokgung Palace's opening hours?
09:00–17:00 from November to February, 09:00–18:00 in March–May and September–October, and 09:00–18:30 from June to August, with last entry an hour before closing. The palace is closed on Tuesdays.
Sources and verification
Facts checked
22 October 2026, against the sources listed below.
This page is desk research from the sources below, not a firsthand report. Confidence in the current facts: medium.
- KTO English tourist data — Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (수문장 교대의식), contentId 292853 (ktriptips mirror)kto — Gyeongbokgung, Heungnyemun and Gwanghwamun areas; changing ceremony 10:00 and 14:00; Gwanghwamun gate-guard ceremony 11:00 and 13:00; public training 09:35 and 13:35; times may change and events may be cancelled in rain; free; 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu; +82-2-3210-1645; Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation; listed 1 Jan–31 Dec 2025
- NOL World (Interpark Global) — Gyeongbokgung Palace Royal Guard Ceremonyother — Daily except Tuesdays; ceremony 10:00 and 14:00, 20 min; Gwanghwamun guard-on-duty 11:00 and 13:00, 10 min; training 09:35 and 13:35, 15 min; uniform try-on before and after the shows; free; in Dec–Feb and Jul–Aug a temperature rule shortens the Gwanghwamun show, ceremony as usual; rain or snow: only the Heungnyemun guard-on-duty; Exit 5 about 5 min; password exchange
- Segye Ilbo (Yonhap) — 경복궁 수문장 교대의식 중단 (5 Aug 2026)news — Twice daily at 10:00 and 14:00 in the Heungnyemun area; gate-guard ceremony 11:00 and 13:00, 10 minutes each; early Joseon costumes and weapons; 궁능유적본부 and 국가유산진흥원; all programmes suspended from 5 Aug 2026 under the extreme-heat warning, to resume when lifted
- Insight — 폭염중대경보에 경복궁 수문장 교대의식 전면 중단 (5 Aug 2026)news — 국가유산진흥원 suspended the ceremony from 5 Aug until the warning is lifted; suspended items: changing ceremony, Gwanghwamun gate-guard ceremony, public training, on-duty guard posting (입직근무) and photo time; extreme-heat warning new since June 2026; shade canopy in Heungnyemun Plaza
- Nocut News — Gwanghwamun guard ceremony halted for the first time (6 Aug 2026)news — First suspension since the ceremony began; notice on the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center website on 5 Aug 2026
- dmomo news summary (AI-written, citing Hankyung) — 입추 지나자 한풀 꺾인 폭염…경복궁 수문장 교대식 재개 (9 Aug 2026)blog — Ceremony resumed on 9 Aug 2026 after the heat eased
- YTN radio — interview with a Gyeongbokgung Management Office interpreter (1 Jun 2026)news — Ceremony twice a day at 10:00 and 14:00, from Heungnyemun to the Gwanghwamun Woldae; Woldae restored in 2023 and now used; Gyeongbokgung closed on Tuesdays
- Daum (news) — 경복궁 수문장 교대 의식 재현 20주년..전국 수문장들 모인다 (30 Sep 2022)news — Ceremony at Gyeongbokgung began in 2002 (20th anniversary in 2022); guard post first set up in Yejong 1 (1469) per the Veritable Records; Deoksugung ceremony began 1996; 문화재청 궁능유적본부 and 한국문화재재단
- Seoul Mediahub — 경복궁 수문장 교대의식 (citizen reporter, 9 Dec 2021)municipal — Changing ceremony 10:00 and 14:00, about 20 minutes; Gwanghwamun gate-guard ceremony 11:00 and 13:00, about 10 minutes, only the Gwanghwamun guards; early Joseon costumes and weapons; commander, guard soldiers, flag bearers and chwitadae band; entry through Hyeopsaengmun, drum signal, courtesies, outgoing guard leaves; winter costumes from 1 Dec 2021
- Seoul Mediahub — 다 아는 줄 알았던 경복궁, 이건 몰랐네! 관람 꿀팁 네 가지 (9 May 2024)municipal — Changing ceremony at Heungnyemun Plaza and Gwanghwamun at 10:00 and 14:00; gate-guard ceremony 11:00 and 13:00; public training outside Hyeopsaengmun at 09:35 and 13:35
- Seoul Mediahub — Gyeongbokgung guard ceremony and night viewing (citizen reporter, 4 Oct 2019)municipal — Changing ceremony 20 minutes; gate-guard ceremony 10 minutes; public training outside Hyeopsaengmun 09:35 and 13:35, 15 minutes
- TRVLOGUE — Gyeongbokgung Guard Ceremony: 2026 Times & Viewing Tips (updated 7 Oct 2026)blog — 10:00 and 14:00, about 20 minutes, daily except Tuesdays; training 09:35 and 13:35, about 15 minutes; may be simplified or cancelled in heavy rain, extreme heat or freezing weather; live commentary in Korean, English and Japanese; where to stand along the blue line; crowd in front of Gwanghwamun; free brochures at the entrance
- eyesmag — 20년 만에 궁·능 관람료가 인상된다 (5 Aug 2026)news — Gyeongbokgung adult admission ₩3,000; planned rise from 1 Jan 2027, new fees to be announced in Nov 2026; free for Koreans aged 24 and under, foreigners aged 18 and under, everyone 65 and over, pregnant women and hanbok wearers
- Namane Card blog — 궁궐 입장료 인상 보류, 한복 무료입장 제도 재검토 중 (10 Oct 2026, citing the Korea Times of 8 Oct 2026)blog — At the 8 Oct 2026 National Assembly audit the Korea Heritage Service said the timing of the fee rise was undecided; current fees (₩3,000) still apply; hanbok free entry under review in October 2026
- Girl on a Zebra — A Mini Gyeongbokgung Palace Guide (2026, updated 21 Feb 2026)blog — Palace hours: Nov–Feb 09:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00), Mar–May and Sep–Oct 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00), Jun–Aug 09:00–18:30 (last entry 17:30); closed Tuesdays; ₩3,000; free in hanbok; guard changing at 10:00 and 14:00, about 20 minutes, not on Tuesdays; watch at the front gate before going in; Exit 5 and Gwanghwamun Exit 2
- KTO TourAPI listing 서울 왕궁수문장 교대의식 (contentId 292961)kto — Deoksugung ceremony in front of Daehanmun: run by Seoul Metropolitan Government, late Joseon setting, 11:00 and 14:00, closed Mondays, free; drum-beating, guard-role and traditional costume photo experiences
- KTO TourAPI listing 2026 숭례문 파수의식 (contentId 3107059)kto — Sungnyemun gate-guard ritual at Sungnyemun Square, daily except Mondays 10:00–15:40, free, with gate opening and closing ceremonies
- Mile Asia — Seoul Station to Gyeongbokgung Palace 2026blog — Line 1 three stops to Jongno 3-ga, then Line 3 two stops to Gyeongbokgung; about 15 minutes on the trains; Exit 5, about 5 minutes' walk; about 20 minutes in all
- Korea Todo — Gyeongbokgung Palaceblog — Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3) Exit 5, about 3 minutes' walk; Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5) Exit 2, about 7 minutes; address 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu
- Busan → Seoul Station train timetable, 16–22 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-16)other — Same last trains on Fri 16, Sat 17 and Sun 18 Oct: 22:00 KTX 82 (arr 00:27) and 22:10 KTX 84 (arr 00:42), i.e. about 2 h 30 min Busan–Seoul; matches korail.com for 16 Oct
- Hankyung: 9월 1일부터 서울~부산 KTX 5만4400원…운임 평균 10% 인하 (31 Aug 2026)news — KTX and SRT run as KTX from 1 Sep; former SRT trainsets renamed KTX-Sancheon; Seoul–Busan ₩59,800→₩54,400, Yongsan–Gwangju Songjeong ₩46,800→₩42,000; Suseo seats +30%; booking unified in Korail+
- Korea Heritage Service Foundation (국가유산진흥원) — 2026년 궁궐 호위군 사열의식 첩종official — Cheopjong royal guard review 30 Oct–1 Nov 2026, 11:00–11:45 and 14:00–14:45, Heungnyemun Plaza, free on-site viewing, public rehearsal 29 Oct 11:00 and 14:00; no guard changing ceremony 29 Oct–1 Nov, replaced by the Gwanghwamun watch ceremony (광화문 파수의식) at 10:00 and 13:00 on the Gwanghwamun terrace (월대); may change in bad weather
What we could not confirm
- The organizer's own current schedule page (Korea Heritage Service / National Heritage Promotion Agency) was not found or opened; the times come from KTO's English listing (2025 data), NOL World, Yonhap via Segye (Aug 2026), a YTN interview (Jun 2026) and Seoul Mediahub, which all agree.
- Exact temperature thresholds for shortening the gate-guard ceremony in winter and summer: NOL World gives 'below 10°C or above 30°C', which may be a garbled 'minus 10°C'.
- Times, place and any fee for photo time and the guard-uniform try-on.
- Whether the ceremony runs when a public holiday falls on a Tuesday, and on Seollal and Chuseok.
- Palace fees from 2027: a rise was planned (August 2026) but its timing was undecided on 8 October 2026 per a blog citing the Korea Times, and the hanbok free-entry rule was under review.
- Which languages the ceremony commentary uses, and wheelchair access to the forecourt, are not published by the organizer.
- No daily gate-opening ceremony was found in the Gyeongbokgung programme (Seoul's Sungnyemun ritual has one).
- Japanese and Chinese names were not found on a KTO or official page.
- No Korean-language KTO TourAPI listing is in the site's snapshot; contentId 292853 is KTO's English-language entry, read through the ktriptips mirror.
Changes: 2026-10-19 — Added to the site: year-round programme (days and times, prices, getting there, sources). · 2026-10-19 — Added a Wikimedia Commons photograph of the guard changing ceremony in 2012 (Korea.net / Korean Culture and Information Service (Jeon Han), CC BY-SA 2.0). · 2026-10-20 — Nearby name aligned: Deoksugung Royal Guard Changing Ceremony. · 2026-10-22 — Added the 29 October–1 November 2026 break: no changing ceremony while the Cheopjong royal guard review is held in Heungnyemun Plaza (11:00 and 14:00); a Gwanghwamun watch ceremony runs instead at 10:00 and 13:00 (Korea Heritage Service Foundation).
