Jongmyo Shrine is the royal ancestral shrine of the Joseon dynasty, which ruled Korea for over five hundred years. Here the spirit tablets of the kings and queens were kept, and memorial rites in their honour are still performed. Listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1995, Jongmyo Shrine is quieter and more austere than Seoul's palaces: there are no throne rooms or colourful pavilions, but long, low halls in a wooded setting that feel strikingly calm in the middle of the city.
Why visit Jongmyo Shrine
Jongmyo was founded at the end of the fourteenth century, when the new Joseon dynasty moved its capital to Seoul, and it was laid out according to Confucian principles alongside the main palace. The shrine was burned during the Japanese invasions of the 1590s and rebuilt in the early seventeenth century.
Its centrepiece, the Jeongjeon, is a main hall that was extended several times as more rulers were enshrined, until it became one of the longest traditional wooden buildings in Korea. Standing in front of it, on a broad stone courtyard, you see a single roofline stretching far to each side, a simple and powerful piece of architecture. The hall went through a major restoration in recent years; check whether any part is still under work before you go.
The ancestral rite, Jongmyo Jerye, and its ritual music are recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. The main public performance is held once a year, usually in early May, and draws big crowds.
How to get to Jongmyo Shrine by subway
The nearest station is Jongno 3-ga, served by Lines 1, 3 and 5. Follow the exit signs for Jongmyo; from street level it is a short walk east along Jong-ro and then through the small park in front of the shrine, Jongmyo Square Park, where local older men often gather to chat and play board games. The main entrance gate is at the far end of the park.
Jongno 5-ga on Line 1 is also within walking distance, coming from the Gwangjang Market side. Use a T-money card for fares.
Jongmyo Shrine tickets and tours
Entry is cheap, and Jongmyo has been included in the combined pass that also covers Seoul's main royal palaces. The visiting system is unusual:
- On most weekdays, visitors enter as part of a guided tour that starts at set times, with tours in English and other languages at certain hours. You must join the tour in your language.
- On some days, typically weekends and certain holidays, the shrine is open for free viewing, so you can walk around at your own pace.
- The shrine closes on one weekday each week, usually Tuesday.
Because tour times, languages and free-viewing days change, check the official Jongmyo website run by the Korea Heritage Service before you go, and arrive a few minutes before your tour starts.
Highlights of Jongmyo Shrine
The Jeongjeon main hall
Take time in the courtyard to look along the full length of the hall and the raised stone path that crosses the yard. The central path was reserved for the spirits, so visitors walk to the side.
Yeongnyeongjeon
The second hall, built to house the tablets of other royal ancestors, has a raised central roof and a slightly more intimate feel.
The ritual buildings and woodland paths
Smaller buildings where the king prepared for the rites and where ritual food was made sit among old trees. In autumn the grounds turn yellow and red and are especially lovely.
The link to Changgyeonggung
A path and bridge over the road connect the shrine area with Changgyeonggung Palace to the north, restoring an old route between the two. It makes a pleasant way to continue your walk.
Best time to visit and how long to stay
An hour is usually enough for a guided tour, and about the same for a self-paced visit on a free-viewing day. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons. If you want to see the annual rite, follow announcements from the Korea Heritage Service in the weeks before, and arrive early.
Nearby on the same stop
Jongno 3-ga is a good base. The hanok alleys of Ikseon-dong, full of cafés and small restaurants, are a few minutes west, and Insadong is a short walk further on. Changdeokgung Palace is just to the north, and Gwangjang Market, famous for mung bean pancakes and other street food, is one stop east at Jongno 5-ga.
See what else is close to the station on the Jongmyo Shrine page on Around the Metro, and explore more of the city with our Seoul subway guide.