Tue to Sun, 11am and 2pm, all yearIn front of Daehanmun, the main gate of Deoksugung Palace, you can watch a re-enactment of the changing of the royal guard, the soldiers who once watched over the palace gates in the Joseon dynasty. It is staged with real historical records as reference, and it runs right in the middle of downtown Seoul, so it is an easy stop if you are already walking around the palace or Jeongdong.
Beyond the changing ceremony itself, there are a few hands on programmes. In 'I Am a Gatekeeper', one visitor per session gets to dress in guard costume and play a small role. 'Gaesikgo' lets one visitor beat the drum that signals the ceremony's start. On weekends and public holidays, anyone can try on traditional Joseon dress for free between 10:30am and 3:30pm, no booking needed. There is also a 'special day of my life' photo session on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays where a small group can take a keepsake photo with the guards.
The ceremony happens six days a week, closed Mondays, at 11am and 2pm in front of Daehanmun Gate, Deoksugung Palace, and it is free to watch. The guard costume and drum experiences need advance booking and have their own arrival times before the session; the photo programme cannot be booked twice by the same person. Check the official site for the booking details.