Four Joseon-era royal palaces in Seoul will remain open throughout the extended Chuseok holiday next week and admit visitors free of charge, the government said Saturday.
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The four palaces ― Gyeongbok, Changdeok, Deoksu and Changgyeong ― as well as the UNESCO-recognized Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty in the capital and its surrounding areas and major heritage sites will temporarily drop admission fees during the traditional Korean holiday from Sept. 12 to 15.
The move is part of the government’s effort to promote domestic tourism during the long holiday weekend.
As part of the policy, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art will also open up its outlets in central Seoul and Gwacheon, and Deoksu Palace for free from Sept. 12 to 14, while the National Science Museum will give a 50 percent discount on ticket purchases during the holiday.
Two national parks ― Mount Bukhan and Mount Jiri ― will be part of the campaign, providing a 30 percent discount for admission.
During the holiday, a variety of tour programs featuring 20 heritage villages will also be available, including Bongpyeong of Pyeongchang in Gangwon Province, the setting for the famous novel “When Buckwheat Flowers Bloom” by prominent novelist Lee Hyo-seok; the city of Icheon, famous for ceramics; and Jeju Island’s Hwabuk, the site of the Jeju Uprising in April 1948 to May 1949. (Yonhap)