The Jongmyo Shrine Tour: What to Know Before You Go

If you’re a Korean history nerd like me, you probably already know about Jongmyo Shrine. But did you know you can’t enter without a guided tour?

That’s right. On weekdays, you need to join one of their guided tours in order to enter at all. It’s how they keep the place clean and orderly. You can enter freely on weekends, but I still recommend joining a tour for extra information.

Since I’ve been to Jongmyo multiple times on different days of the week, I’ll share with you exactly how to get tickets, how to enter with the tour, and what you’ll see inside.

Oh, there’s also the Jongmyo Daeje, the accompanying ancestral rite that’s only held twice a year. It is one of the most significant national ceremonies in Korea. Anyone can go watch, you just need to know how, which I’ll also share!

What Is Jongmyo Shrine Exactly?

In layman’s terms, it’s a collection of buildings inhabited by… spirits. The only living people inside are the staff members who maintain the place, and the tourists, of course.

In Joseon culture, spirits of deceased ancestors are enshrined in symbolic tablets.

This way, their offspring can store the tablets and bring them out to pay respects and perform ancestral rites on special occasions. This is usually done at home.

You can think of Jongmyo Shrine as the state-level site for holding these rituals. The tablets stored at the shrine are of deceased kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty.

First built in 1395 and remaining intact since the 1600s, Jongmyo was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1995. It is considered the most important state institution in South Korea.

How Spirit Tablets of Monarchs Are Handled

The spirit tablet of a Joseon monarch is a wooden tablet with six holes on its top, bottom, and four sides. These holes are where the spirit rests.

Inscribed in Chinese characters on the tablet are honorary titles identifying the monarch or consort.

During ancestral rites, a king’s tablet is displayed to the west and on the same altar as his queen consort. The king’s tablet is always covered in white cloth, while the queen’s is covered in blue.

What Makes Jongmyo Shrine a Must-Visit

Okay, so here’s the thing. When we talk about Jongmyo Shrine, we can’t just talk about the shrine. We have to talk about a 600-year-old ritual that accompanies it, too.

The shrine itself is a UNESCO World Heritage, and the accompanying ritual is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. How cool is that?

The Jongmyo Jerye, the Joseon Dynasty’s rite of worshipping deceased kings, is still held annually and is open to the public.

This means that you can see this ritual performed live when you’re in Seoul, as long as you know when and how to get in there. I’ll talk about this in more detail later as well!

Essential Visitor Information

First, let’s talk about how to get inside the shrine grounds.

I was surprised by a few things the first time I tried to visit Jongmyo. We’ll cover some essential logistics you need to know in detail, so you won’t be as confused or surprised as I was.

How to Get to Jongmyo Shrine

• Take the Metro Line 1 to Jongno 3-ga Station
• Use exit 11, and walk straight for around 5 minutes.
• The entrance to Jongmyo Shrine will be on your left.

Opening Hours & Guided Tour Times

Jongmyo Shrine is closed every Tuesday and requires guided visits on the remaining weekdays.

General Admission Hours

These are effective only on the weekends, national holidays, and the last Wednesday of every month. I’ll list the time for the last admission instead of the closing hours.

• June to August: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
• November to January: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• Rest of the Year: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Guided Tour Hours

Only guided visits are allowed on weekdays.

• 🇺🇸 English: 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM
• 🇰🇷 Korean: 9:20 AM, 10:20 AM, 11:20 AM, 12:20 PM, 1:20 PM, 2:20 PM, 3:20 PM, 4:20 PM
• 🇯🇵 Japanese: 9:40 AM, 11:40 AM, 1:40 PM, 3:40 PM
• 🇨🇳 Chinese: 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM

Tours are available on Sundays, too, if you can’t visit on a weekday but prefer a guided experience. They run on this very same schedule.

Avoid visiting on a Saturday, as there are no foreign-language tours available.

Admission Fees & Ticket Info

• Tickets: 1,000 KRW for adults
• Free Admission: Under age 19, Over age 65, and on Culture Days

No advanced booking is required. You can buy your ticket on site, but I recommend doing so before your tour time so it doesn’t book out.

Buy your ticket, and then find a place nearby to hang out while you wait.

Important Stops on the Jongmyo Shrine Tour

There aren’t many buildings inside the grounds of Jongmyo, so you won’t need to take in as much information as you do inside a palace. But that doesn’t mean it’s underwhelming at all.

Jeongjeon (Main Hall)

I’ll tell you now that it’s bigger than you think, but you’ll still be surprised when you’re there.

It looks insanely simple (and potentially small) in photos, but can you see how small the few people look next to it in this photo below?! 👇

This is the main hall of Jongmyo Shrine, housing 19 spirit chambers where spirit tablets of Joseon kings and queens are enshrined.

When a king or queen died during the Joseon era, a three-year mourning period was held at the palace (Gyeongbokgung or Changdeokgung, depending on the year).

After the mourning period was over, the spirit tablet would be brought to this hall.

Gongsindang and Chilsadang

Directly opposite the courtyard from Jeongjeon are two smaller halls.

Gongsindang, the longer building to the east, houses the spirit tablets of officials who dutifully served the kings. Chilsadang, the smaller building to the west, houses the seven deities who ensured all affairs of the royal family went smoothly.

Akgongcheong Pavilion

Right outside the South Gate to Jeongjeon, across the path, is Akgongcheon Pavilion. This is where musicians and dancers wait for their part in the ceremony.

Yeongnyeongjeon (Hall of Eternal Peace)

This hall was built in 1421 as an extension of Jeongjeon. It originally had 6 spirit chambers, but was expanded into the 16 you see today.

The four central chambers hold spirit tablets for four generations of King Taejo‘s ancestors.

This means that they’re technically not of the Joseon Dynasty, but without them, the Joseon Dynasty might not have started.

The Ritual Road

This is the most important section you’ll ever read in this guide, so pay very close attention.

Wherever you go inside Jongmyo Shrine, you’ll see three distinct stone pathways.

Together, they make up the Ritual Road. The path on the left is Seja-ro, or the crown prince’s path. To the right is Eo-ro, or the king’s path.

The middle path is called “Sillo,” or “Sinhyangno,” which means “Sacred Path,” reserved for the spirits of kings and queens. During the rituals, only the officials carrying spirit tablets are allowed to walk on it.

No one else is allowed to walk on the sacred path. Yes, not you either.

Jaegung Hall

Jaegung is where the king and the crown prince stayed to purify their minds and bodies for the ritual.

The middle building, Eojaesil, is where the king stayed, and the building to the east, Sejajaesil, is where the crown prince stayed.

The green building to the west, Eomokyokcheong, is a bath facility.

Hyangdaecheong Hall

Hyangdaecheong was a storage room for ritual supplies. Things like ritual paper, incense, and offerings were kept.

A part of the building has been converted into two small exhibition rooms, where visitors can learn more about the shrine and the jerye ritual.

The Jongmyo Daeje: A UNESCO Intangible Heritage

Jongmyo Jerye (Hangeul: 종묘제례, Hanja: 宗廟祭禮) is the royal ancestral rite held for the deceased kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty.

It’s sometimes called the Jongmyo Daeje (Hangeul: 종묘대제, Hanja: 宗廟大祭), which means the Great Rite of Jongmyo.

The ceremony combines ritual music and dance, and is considered one of the rarest cultural events (that I was fortunate enough to see).

During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), the ceremony was held 5 times a year, in each season, and in December.

Today, it happens twice a year, on the first Sunday of May and the first Saturday of November. On both days, Jongmyo is open and completely free to the public, with no tours operating.

The main ceremony usually takes place from 10 AM to 5 PM inside the two halls of Jongmyo Shrine. However, there are accompanying events for the preceding week, turning it into a cultural festival.

To secure a seat at the live opening ceremony, you need to register on site. Don’t ask me how to beat the thousand other people wanting to go in, though. I apparently did not succeed.

But here’s the good news: Even though you didn’t get a seat, the ceremony is broadcast live at the shrine outside the hall, too. You can stand there and watch!

Other Cultural Spots Near Jongmyo Shrine

I love how all the Joseon-era cultural sites are piled together in one neighborhood. You could even walk between all of them if you’re used to walking a lot.

• Changdeokgung Palace: Another UNESCO site and the main palace of the dynasty from the 17th to 19th centuries.
• Changgyeonggung Palace: The palace of queens and a hidden gem
• Ikseondong Hanok Village: Cute cafes and shops in Seoul’s oldest Hanok village
• Insadong: Good place for traditional tea experiences and calligraphy classes
• Gyeongbokgung Palace: The Joseon Dynasty’s main palace since 1395
• Bukchon Hanok Village: The biggest cluster of traditional Hanoks in Korea

My Recommended Way to Visit the Shrine

Head to Jongmyo first, and buy your ticket for an afternoon tour before it sells out.

As you wait for tour time, visit Changdeokgung in the morning. Have lunch at Gwangjang Market or Woo Lae Ok, chill at one of the cool cafes in Ikseondong, then spend an hour on the Jongmyo tour.

Like how that sounds? I have an entire 3-day itinerary you can follow, with those stops included!

Browse the rest of my South Korea guides for more ideas.

Helpful Travel Tips for South Korea

Most visa-free visitors to South Korea need a K-ETA in order to enter Korea. Check if you need one and apply about a week before you travel. This replaces the arrival form.

• Make sure you protect your trip with a travel insurance.
• Get this eSIM for local data without giving up your number.
• Must-have Apps: Papago AI Translator, Naver Maps, Kakao Metro

Read up on how to get from Incheon into the city, so you don’t run into surprises.

Don’t forget to learn some important dos and don’ts in Korean culture, as well as some useful Korean phrases, before you arrive!

Find a Place to Stay in Seoul

Looking for somewhere to stay? Use the map below! Feel free to refer to my guide on Seoul neighborhoods and figure out which area suits your needs best!

Grab My South Korea E-Checklist

To make sure you don’t leave anything important out of your preparations, I’ve made a digital checklist to help you get ready. I leave 2 pages blank for you to customize your own checklist, too!

FAQ About Jongmyo Shrine

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