Hanbok Rental with Gyeongbokgung Palace Entry Seoul

Wearing a hanbok in Seoul

The hanbok is the traditional dress of Korea, recognisable by its high-waisted, bell-shaped skirt or wide trousers, short jacket and bright, harmonious colours. For centuries it was everyday clothing; today Koreans wear it for weddings, family celebrations and the main holidays, and visitors wear it to explore the old palaces of Seoul. Renting one is one of the most popular things to do near Gyeongbokgung, and the streets around the palace are full of people in costume.

With the premium option you can choose richer fabrics and embroidered designs, including styles inspired by royal court dress and by the uniforms of palace guards and warriors. The shop staff help you pick a colour and size and tie the garment correctly. Hairstyling is available at the shop for an extra fee, and lockers keep your bags safe while you explore.

Gyeongbokgung Palace

Gyeongbokgung was built in 1395 as the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty, which ruled Korea for more than five centuries. It was burned during the wars of the late 16th century, rebuilt on a vast scale in the 1860s and carefully restored in recent decades. Highlights include Geunjeongjeon, the stately throne hall with its stone courtyard of rank markers; Gyeonghoeru, a two-storey banquet pavilion floating on a lotus pond; and the small Hyangwonjeong pavilion on its island further north.

Is Gyeongbokgung Palace worth visiting? It is the essential sight of old Seoul, and in hanbok it becomes a living photo set. Allow at least two hours. The palace is closed on Tuesdays, and Gyeongbokgung opening hours run from about 09:00 to between 17:00 and 18:30 depending on the season, with last entry one hour before closing.

Gwanghwamun Gate and the royal guard ceremony

Gwanghwamun is the monumental main gate of Gyeongbokgung, facing a broad public square lined with government buildings and mountains behind. It is the starting point of most visits and a classic photo spot, especially in the soft light of early morning or late afternoon. Stone guardian figures stand in front of the gate, and its tiered wooden roof is painted in the traditional green, red and blue patterns.

Several times a day, except on Tuesdays, the royal guard changing ceremony takes place in front of the gate. Guards in colourful historical uniforms march to drums and horns, re-creating a ritual of the Joseon court; it lasts about 20 minutes and is free to watch. In a full-day hanbok you have plenty of time to see the ceremony, enter the palace, rest and return for more photos as the light changes.

Bukchon Hanok Village and the palace district

Just east of Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon Hanok Village is a hillside neighbourhood of traditional wooden houses with curved tiled roofs, built for officials and scholars close to the royal court. Its narrow lanes offer views over the rooftops towards the modern city, and in hanbok it is one of the most photographed corners of Seoul. Please keep voices low, as people still live in many of the houses, and respect the visiting hours posted in the lanes.

The district also includes Samcheong-dong, with small galleries and tea houses, and the National Folk Museum inside the palace grounds, which explains daily life in old Korea. If you are wondering how to get to Gyeongbokgung Palace, take subway line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station or line 5 to Gwanghwamun Station; both are a few minutes from the palace and the rental shops.