Start at City Hall

Archival City Hall station Exit 1

Exit 1 is pictured; the city’s palace route references Exit 2. Use the current station map to choose your approach.

Deoksugung stands beside City Hall station on Lines 1 and 2. Seoul’s palace directions use Exit 2; match Daehanmun gate on the street map.

  • Save Deoksugung, 99 Sejong-daero. Do not follow signs toward the City Hall Seosomun office buildings when your destination is the palace gate.
  • Exit 1 also appears in the national museum’s directions. That describes its approach; it does not mean you must change subway lines to reach the palace.

Pay for the ride

Seoul subway ticket and reload machines

A Seoul subway ticket-machine example, not a palace ticket machine; follow the current destination and payment prompts.

A supported transport card or ordinary subway ticket is enough for this journey. Compare a pass only with the rest of your day’s actual rides.

  • The linked airport-pickup Tmoney is optional advance preparation. Check counter hours and whether stored balance is included; it is not palace or exhibition admission.
  • Already in Seoul? Local purchase or top-up is usually more practical than returning to an airport collection counter.

Find Daehanmun

After exiting, identify Daehanmun on the palace side of Sejong-daero. Use a marked crossing if you emerge across the road; do not assume all City Hall exits are on the same side.

  • The station photos show different numbered entrances. Read the number in your own station and use the current map instead of following a historical photograph literally.
  • For a step-free trip, check both platform-to-concourse and concourse-to-street lifts. A convenient-looking stair exit is not a full accessible route.

Choose the visit

Archival Deoksugung grounds information map

Palace admission, the public stone-wall streets and an MMCA exhibition are separate choices. Decide which you want before joining a ticket queue.

  • Check the palace’s operating calendar and last-entry notice. A programme or museum can have different opening days, reservations and charges.
  • A transport-card booking does not reserve a museum slot. For an exhibition, check the MMCA Deoksugung page and the specific show’s ticket instructions.
  • Official foreign-adult admission (ages 19–64) is KRW1,000. General hours are 09:00–21:00, last entry 20:00. Normally closed Mondays; holiday exceptions move the closure. Seokjojeon interior guided visits require their own reservation.

Walk in short sections

Archival winter view of Junghwajeon Hall at Deoksugung
Seokjojeon façade and fountain
Side view of Seokjojeon columns and façade

Inside the grounds, use Junghwajeon and Seokjojeon as distinct landmarks. Then leave time for a short walk beside the stone wall outside the admission area.

  • Photograph façades from permitted public areas. A picture of an interior does not establish that the room is open on your date.
  • Keep the walk flexible: choose the palace plus a short wall section, or a museum visit plus a break, rather than promise every option in one hour.

Return to your line

Before re-entering City Hall, choose Line 1 or Line 2 for the next destination and check the adjacent station in the correct direction.

  • Follow lift signs if needed instead of returning automatically to the same numbered stairs.
  • Keep museum and palace closing times separate from train times. If an event changes access around the gate, use current staff directions.

Sources & photo credits

Photo credits

Photos are resized and converted to WebP. Archival images illustrate signs and spaces; they do not show current service conditions.