JongmyoDaeje Returns 

to the Restored Main Hall of Jongmyo Shrine 

After Six Years

 -The 2025 JongmyoDaeje will be held on Sunday, May 4 at 2:00 PM,

with advance reservations for viewing the Jeongjeon Rite opening on Friday,

April 18 at 2:00 PM -

<2025 JongmyoDaeje>, Royal Ancestral Ritual in the Jongmyo Shrine, will be held at Jongmyo Shrine on Sunday, May 4 at 2:00 PM. The ceremony is hosted by the Korea Heritage Service (Administrator: Choi Eung-Chon), and organized by the Korea Heritage Agency (President: Choi Young-chang) in cooperation with JongmyoDaeje Steering committee(Chairman: Lee Gui-nam/the JongmyoJerye Preservation Association, and the JongmyoJeryeak Preservation Association).

combining solemn ancestral rituals with refined music and dance, was inscribed in 2001 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for its outstanding cultural significance. This comprehensive rite is classified as a gillye, an auspicious rite under the GukjoOryeui (Five Rites of State)—and was traditionally the most prestigious and elaborate Confucian ritual, personally officiated by the king. Revived in 1969, it has since continued as a symbol of Korea’s royal ceremonial heritage, and been held annually on the first Sunday of May, conducted with solemn dignity in strict accordance with Confucian ritual protocol.
* GukjoOryeui (National Five Rites Protocol): A state ritual manual compiled in 1474 that codifies the five major rites of the dynasty—gillye (auspicious rites), hyungnye (funerary rites), gunrye (military rites), binrye (reception rites), and garye (wedding rites).

As a uniquely Korean event that offers a rare opportunity to experience both tangible and intangible heritage, the ceremony holds particular significance this year, as it returns to the Main Hall of Jongmyo Shrine, following the completion of a six-year repair project. This year also marks two important anniversaries: the 50th anniversary of the designation of JongmyoDaeje as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the 30th anniversary of Jongmyo Shrine’s inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage.

The event will begin at 10:00 AM with the ancestral rite at Yeongnyeongjeon Hall, followed by a royal procession(Eogahaengnyeol) from Gwanghwamun Gate at Gyeongbokgung Palace to Jongmyo Shrine.
At 2:00 PM, the main ancestral rite(Jehyang) will be held at the Main Hall of Jongmyo Shrine. Following the rite, the Sinsil(spirit chamber) inside the Main Hall, normally closed to the public, will be open for public viewing. Viewing of the main ancestral rite is available by advance reservation, which opens at 2:00 PM on Thursday, April 18 through Ticketlink(www.ticketlink.co.kr) on a first-come, first-served basis. Any remaining seats will be allocated on-site on the day of the event, also on a first-come, first-served basis.

On the day of the event, the ancestral rite will be broadcast live on large screens installed at two locations within Jongmyo Shrine—in front of Yeongnyeongjeon Hall and the Main Hall. The entire ceremony will also be livestreamed on YouTube, providing global audiences with real-time access to the event.
*Korea Heritage Service YouTube: www.youtube.com/@khs_pr
*K-RoyalCulture(GungneungTV) YouTube: www.youtube.com/@K-royalculture

In addition, the Korea Heritage Service and the Korea Heritage Agency will designate an 11-day "Jongmyo Week" (April 24 – May 4) to celebrate and promote the tangible and intangible heritage of Jongmyo Shrine. During this period, with the 2025 JongmyoDaeje, various cultural events and experience programs will be held, including the JongmyoJeryeak Night Performance.

At the JongmyoJeryeak Instruments Experience Booth, visitors can try playing traditional ceremonial instruments used in the ancestral rites. The Exhibition Booth of the Sinsil(spirit chamber) features a display of a traditional royal ritual table, accompanied by guided explanations. At the Jeongjeon Scratch Postcard Experience Booth, participants can experience scratching postcards depicting the Main Hall of Jongmyo Shrine. These experience programs will be available from April 26 to May 4, near Hyangdaecheong Office at Jongmyo Shrine. No advance reservation is required—visitors can participate on-site during the event period.

For more information about the JongmyoDaeje, please visit the official websites of the Korea Heritage Service(www.khs.go.kr) or the Korea Heritage Agency(www.kh.or.kr), or contact the Royal Palaces Program Help desk at 1522-2295.

Through JongmyoDaeje, held at the newly restored Main Hall of Jongmyo Shrine, visitors will have the opportunity to rediscover the dignity of Korean traditional culture and the enduring value of humanity’s intangible heritage. In addition, Korea Heritage Service intends to continue to implement active administration to provide services for enjoyment of intangible heritage to the public.

Attachment
1. <2025 JongmyoDaeje> Event Overview
2. <2025 JongmyoDaeje> Reference Photos
3. <2025 JongmyoDaeje> Promotional Material