The Korea Heritage Service (KHS) on Aug. 18 said the palaces of Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung from next month will host evening moonlight tours. Shown is the Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour in the first half of this year. (KHS)

By Oh Jung Eun

Tours featuring historical royal palaces on autumn nights will begin next month at Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung.

The Korea Heritage Service (KHS) on Aug. 18 said it will host Gyeongbokgung Palace Nighttime Viewing from Sept. 2 to Oct. 2.

The program will feature performances of traditional court music and dance. Musicians from the National Gugak Center will present 15 shows at Sujeongjeon Hall from Sept. 2–5, 9–12 and 16–19 and Sept. 30–Oct. 2.

Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour, one of the palace's signature evening events, will run from Sept. 10 to Oct. 17. Visitors can tour the palace grounds including the rear garden while carrying a cheongsachorong, a traditional lantern typically made by joining red and blue silk shades with a candle inside, and listening to commentary from expert guides.

The program will also include a traditional music concert, photo ops with performers of "Royal Stroll," a reenactment of a royal procession from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), and traditional tea and refreshments.

Tickets for the Gyeongbokgung tour will be on sale on a first-come, first-served basis through Nol Ticket (https://nol.interpark.com) from Aug. 26 at 10 a.m. through Oct. 1 at 11:59 p.m. A combined 3,000 tickets per day will be available limited to four per person.

Foreign visitors can purchase up to 300 per day (two per person) at the ticket office on the day of their visit by presenting a passport or another form of identification.

Reservations for the Changdeokgung tour will be conducted through a lottery. Applications will be accepted on Ticketlink (www.ticketlink.co.kr) from Aug. 20 at 2 p.m. through Aug. 26 at 11:59 p.m., with a limit of 28 visitors per session. Winners will be announced on the official KHS website on Aug. 28 from 5 p.m.

Foreign visitors can go on tours in English, Chinese and Japanese on Sept. 20 and 27 and Oct. 4 and 11. Reservations on a first-come, first-served basis will start on Aug. 28 at 9 a.m. through Creatrip (www.creatrip.com).

More information is on the official website of the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center (royal.khs.go.kr).

cloveroh@korea.kr