A man waves a massive flag at Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul during this year's spring edition of the K-Royal Culture Festival. Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service
This year's fall edition of the K-Royal Culture Festival is set to return on Hangeul Day, a national holiday on Oct. 9 celebrating the creation of the Korean alphabet, to showcase the regal heritage of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty against the stunning autumnal backdrop.
The five-day festival, running from Oct. 9 to 13, will unfold across four major palaces in Seoul — Gyeongbok, Changdeok, Deoksu and Changgyeong palaces.
Held every spring and fall since 2014, the biannual event has been organized by the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the Korea Heritage Service, along with the Korea Heritage Agency. Its spring iteration attracted over 600,000 visitors, with a quarter of them hailing from abroad.
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On the festival's opening day at Gyeongbok Palace, the former primary residence and office of Joseon royalty, anyone dressed in "hanbok" (traditional Korean attire) can enjoy free entry to the Hanbok Royal Banquet.
The banquet features the Walking of Royal Family, a majestic reenactment of the king, queen and princely couple strolling through the palace, accompanied by live performances of "gugak" (traditional Korean music).
Other hanbok-themed programs will also take place at the venue, including hanbok accessory crafting sessions, an exhibition of award-winning photography and the Hanbok Best Dresser showcase.
There will also be a special crossover dance performance titled "The Palace Concert: Ballet x Sujecheon" that blends ballet with Korea's court music from Oct. 10 to 13 at the palace's Jibokjae Hall. A limited number of seats are reserved for international visitors, which can be booked through Creatrip.
A scene from the spring edition of the K-Royal Culture Festival / Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service
Meanwhile, at Changdeok Palace, visitors will once again have the chance to take a leisurely two-hour morning stroll through the palace grounds. This tranquil experience, perfect for those who want to appreciate the serene beauty of the palace in the early hours, will be enriched by the stories of artist Lee Si-woo and historian Ahn Ji-young.
Other highlights include the historical play "Peach Blossom: A Sorrowful Scene" staged at Changgyeong Palace's Myeongjeongjeon Hall and a nighttime media art display "Moonlight Lotus Show" at the scenic Chundangji Pond.
A total of 4,000 K-Royal Palaces Passes are available for purchase, which grant unlimited access to all four palaces through the event, as well as one nighttime admission to Gyeongbok Palace.
Detailed schedules can be found on the festival's official website.