How to Book Changdeokgung Secret Garden & Jongmyo Online (2026)

If you are planning a trip to Seoul, visiting the Changdeokgung Palace Secret Garden (Huwon) and the Jongmyo Shrine is likely at the top of your list. These UNESCO World Heritage sites offer a profound glimpse into Korea’s royal past. However, many travelers find themselves frustrated when trying to secure a spot through the official booking system. While there is a global version of the site, it often fails to process reservations correctly for international visitors. As someone living in Korea who has helped many friends navigate this “digital maze,” I have put together this definitive Changdeokgung and Jongmyo online reservation guide to ensure you don’t miss out on these masterpieces.

1. Why the Standard English Site Fails for Reservations
2. The Secret Path: Navigating the Korean Interface
3. Switching to English at the Right Moment
4. The Email Authentication for Foreigners
5. Payment and Mobile Ticket Tips
6. Booking and the Korean Time Zone
7. Essential Visitor Information and Rules

Why the Standard English Site Fails for Reservations

Most tourists instinctively click the globe icon or the “English” button on the main landing page of the Royal Palaces and Tombs Management Office website. While this seems logical, it is actually a common pitfall. The global version of the site often acts as an information portal rather than a functional booking engine. Many users report that the “Reservation” button becomes unresponsive or leads to a dead end when accessed through the primary English portal.

To successfully book your tour—whether for the Secret Garden or Jongmyo Shrine—you must start on the Korean version of the site. Using a browser with a built-in translator like Papago or Google Translate can help, but avoid clicking the site’s internal “Language” toggle at the top right until we reach a specific step.

The Secret Path: Navigating the Korean Interface

The journey begins at the official Royal Palaces portal. The booking logic for both the Secret Garden and Jongmyo Shrine is entirely identical. To get to the actual booking engine that works, follow these specific steps:

• Step 1: Access the main portal at royal.khs.go.kr.
• Step 2: Look for the link labeled ①’창덕궁’ (Changdeokgung). This is the link for Changdeokgung Palace, while ② is the link for Jongmyo Shrine. Click Changdeokgung (or Jongmyo if that is your destination, as the steps are the same).
• Step 3: Once on the Changdeokgung sub-page, you will see two main booking options. One is for the ③ Secret Garden (후원관람 예약) and the other is for ④ the Palace Buildings (전각관람 예약). Click ③ for Secret Garden Reservation.
• Step 4: Click the ⑤’English’ button in the top-right corner of the reservation page. Then, click ‘Book Now’ directly without selecting any other options. This will take you to a page where you can log in using your email.
• Step 5: On the next page, enter your email and password to log in, and then you can proceed with your reservation.

📌 Local Note: I want to emphasize that the procedure for Jongmyo Shrine and the Changdeokgung Secret Garden is completely identical. Once you master the path for one, you can apply the same logic to the other using the same account and login details.

Switching to English at the Right Moment

Here is the “pro tip” that makes all the difference: Only switch the language after you have entered the specific booking sub-page for the site you want to visit. As mentioned in Step 4, clicking the ‘English’ button only after you reach the reservation sub-page activates the foreign-friendly booking system without breaking the scripts required for the calendar to function.

By waiting until this moment, the interface transforms into a functional English version. If you had clicked English on the very first homepage, you might never have reached the actual calendar and time-slot selection screen.

The Email Authentication for Foreigners

One of the biggest hurdles for visitors is the login process. In Korea, most online services require a local phone number for identity verification. For travelers, this is impossible. However, the system provides a workaround specifically for international guests via email authentication.

When you are redirected to the login page after clicking “Book Now,” you will need to enter your email address and set a password. The system will send a verification code to your email. Once verified, your account is active. You can use this same login for future bookings at other royal sites, including Jongmyo Shrine, without needing to verify your email every single time.

Payment and Mobile Ticket Tips

Once you have selected your date, time, and the number of people, you must proceed to payment. Here are the critical rules for a smooth transaction:

• Accepted Cards: The system generally accepts Visa or Mastercard issued outside of Korea. Ensure your card has 3D Secure enabled.
• Payment Deadlines: If you book 6 days in advance, you have 24 hours to pay. However, if you book the day before your visit, you must pay by 23:59 (midnight) on that same day, or the reservation will be automatically cancelled.
• Mobile Tickets: Access your mobile ticket via “My Reservation.” A screenshot is not valid; the ticket must be “live” on your phone to be scanned at the entrance. It becomes active 30 minutes before your tour starts.

Booking and the Korean Time Zone

If you are planning your trip from overseas, you must remember that all reservation windows open based on Korean Standard Time (KST, UTC+9). Online bookings open at 10:00 AM, 6 days prior to the tour date. For example, if you wish to visit on December 20th, you should be ready to book at 10:00 AM KST on December 14th.

During peak travel months, Secret Garden and Jongmyo slots can disappear within minutes. Always check the time difference between your location and Seoul to ensure you are online exactly when the window opens.

Essential Visitor Information and Rules

Both sites are highly regulated to preserve their historical integrity. Please take note of the following rules:

General Availability

Site	Online Booking Window	On-Site (First-Come)	Closed Day
Secret Garden	6 days in advance (10:00 AM)	50 tickets per slot	Monday
Jongmyo Shrine	6 days in advance (10:00 AM)	Limited availability	Tuesday

Important Tips for Jongmyo Shrine

Jongmyo is a sacred ancestral shrine with specific etiquette that differs from the palaces:

• The Spirit Road (Sillo): Do not walk on the raised stone path in the center of the walkway. This path is reserved for the spirits of deceased kings and queens. Visitors should walk on the paths to either side.
• Guided Tours: On weekdays and Sundays, Jongmyo can only be viewed via a guided tour. General, self-guided viewing is only permitted on Saturdays and the last Wednesday of each month.
• Atmosphere: Maintain a quiet and respectful tone at all times.

Secret Garden Timing

Admission is only allowed at the entry time on your ticket. It takes about 15 minutes to walk from the palace main gate (Donhwamun) to the Secret Garden entrance. If you are late, entry will be denied without a refund.

💡 Pro Tip: Foreign language tours are strictly for foreigners. Koreans are only allowed to join if they are with a foreigner, and there is a limit of 2 Koreans per group.

Korean Culture portal KCulture.com

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