The Hotel Where you stay→ Jogye Buddhist Temple → The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony → Gyeongbok Palace → The National Folk Museum → Pass by the Presidential Blue House → Amethyst or Ginseng center → Lunch → Korean Folk Village → The Korean Traditional Performance→Amethyst or Ginseng center→Hotel
Tour Condition
* All package tours include the guide, transportation, and admission fee.
* Amethyst & Ginseng Center will be included in every package tour course.
* After the morning package tours, you will be dropped off at Itaewon.
(For the sending service, there will be an additional charge of 10,000won)
* If there’s an unannounced military training or official event in JSA, the tour will be cancelled on the day of the tour without notice.
* If you cancel your reservation on the day of the tour, there will be a 70% cancellation charge. (For the Panmunjeom and DMZ Tour, there will be a 100% cancellation charge. For other services such as hotel or airline reservations, it will be different case by case.)
* Pick up time will be changed to your hotel location.
* Pay by different currency, card, or room charge is possible when paying for your tour.
* The package tour - Child fares: 30% off under 7 years of age.
* Don’t act independently during the package group tour.
* Considering the traffic jam of Seoul, pick up service will be delayed occasionally.
* Cosmojin will not be responsible for your personal incidents and loss during the tours.
Reminder
*Gyeongbok Palace will be replaced by another tourist attraction when it is closed on Tuesdays. *The Korean Traditional Performance and Guard Changing Ceremony will be cancelled in case of rain or snow.
Knowing beforehand allows you to have more fun!
Jogye Buddhist Temple
Jogye Temple, as the representative temple of the Korean Buddhism is the place of Boddhisattvas' compassionated mind to seek living all together in the world. Its main hall, Great Hero Hall, is always open to welcome anyone of various nationalities and religions that would be come to pray or participate in worship. It has become famous for opening its space to participate Buddhist events.
It was established in1910 and called as Gakhwang temple. In 1954, it was renamed as Jogyesa, the only traditional temple located inside the boundary of four gates built during Chosun Dynasty in Seoul.
The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony
In ancient times, the royal guards of Joseon Dynasty performed the given task by guarding the Gwanghwamun Gate, the entrance of Gyeongbokgung Palace. The reenactment of the original ceremony began from 1996. The gate guardsmen perform the changing of the guards and hold a parade. The guards' uniforms, weapons, and accessories as well as their strict ceremonial procedures catch the eyes of people, especially foreign tourists, when guardsmen perform the changing of guards in traditional costumes at the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace in downtown Seoul. Be sure to bring a camera to take lots of pictures.
Gyeongbok Palace
The palace was originally constructed in 1394 by King Taejo and "Gyeongbokgung" was named by minister Jeong Do-jeon. Gyeongbokgung was continuously expanded during the reign of King Taejong and King Sejong the Great, but part of the palace was burnt down during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598).
During the regency of Daewon-gun in 1867, the buildings were reconstructed and formed a massive 330-building complex with 5,792 rooms. Standing on 4,414,000 square feet (410,000 square meters) of land, it was a symbol of majesty for the Korean people and the home of the royal family. In 1895, after the assassination of Empress Myeongseong by Japanese agents, her husband, Emperor Gojong left the palace and the imperial family would never return.
In 1911, the government of Japan demolished all but 10 buildings during the period of Japanese occupation, constructing the Japanese General Government Building for the Governor-General of Korea in front of the throne hall. Oddly, the Japanese took many pictures of poverty in Korea, but did not take a single photo of this historic site.
At the end of the Second World War, major buildings on the site included Geunjeongjeon, the Imperial throne room (national treasure number 223), and Gyeonghoeru Pavilion (national treasure number 224), which stands in an artificial lotus lake, resting on 48 granite pillars. The pavilion is depicted on the 10,000 won Korean banknotes.
Today the palace is open to the public, and houses the National Folk Museum of Korea. The National Museum of Korea was there too, until it was relocated to Yongsan-gu in 2005.
Many Koreans still hope to reconstruct part of the original palace. Archeological work has brought 330 building foundations to light. However, the original magnificence of the palace may never be fully restored. Fortunately, the main gate to the palace, called Gwanghwamun, is now being restored to its original state, to be completed in 2009.
The National Folk Museum
The National Folk Museum of Korea, located in Gyeongbokgung Palace, features aspects of both the traditional folk culture of ordinary people and that of the aristocracy, centering particularly on the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Devoted to the study, collection, and preservation of folk artifacts, it is also a forum for social education on folk culture through exhibitions and classes, which are designed to provide a better understanding of traditional Korean culture.
Pass By The Presidential Blue House
Cheong Wa Dae (translation: The House of the Blue Roof Tiles or the Blue House, Office of the President of the Republic of Korea) is the executive office and official residence of the South Korean head of state, the President of the Republic of Korea. Both the English and Korean names refer to the building's blue-green roof. The Korean name has the literal meaning "house of the blue roof tiles." Cheong Wa Dae is in fact a complex of buildings, built largely in the traditional Korean style with some modern elements.
At present, Cheong Wa Dae consists of the main office building, the official Presidential residence, Yeongbin-gwan (영빈관, 迎賓館) or the guest house, the Chunchugwan (춘추관, 春秋館) press hall, and the secretariat buildings. The entire complex covers 76,685 pyeong (about 250,000 m²).
Korean Folk Village
The Korean Folk Village, which vividly recreates the lifestyle of the Joseon Period, is nestled 41 kilometers south of Seoul where clear streams flow through lush forests.
The total area of 66,550 square meters embraces a government office, a forge, a pottery kiln, a village school, a rice cake shop and a 99-room nobleman's residence.
It also contains about 270 farmhouses that feature the characteristics of each region.
Full Day Tour
Tour Condition
