종묘
Jongmyo is the Confucian royal ancestral shrine of the Joseon Dynasty, where memorial tablets of kings and queens are enshrined. Founded in 1395, it served as a sacred space honoring royal spirits for over 500 years. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, it received additional recognition in 2001 when the Jongmyo Jerye ritual and Jeryeak music were designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage, making it a rare 'double heritage' site. The main hall Jeongjeon, with 19 chambers spanning 101 meters, is the longest single wooden structure in the world, housing 49 spirit tablets. The architecture deliberately eschews ornamentation, single eaves, no dancheong (decorative painting), only red lacquer, and this restrained beauty maximizes the solemnity of the ritual space. Yeongnyeongjeon is a secondary shrine for royal ancestors not enshrined in Jeongjeon, similar in style but smaller. Across the expansive stone courtyard (woldae), the Sinro (Spirit Path) runs north-south, a path reserved solely for the spirits. The king used the eastern Eoro path, while the crown prince walked the western Sejaro. In April 2025, after five years of extensive restoration with 70,000 handmade roof tiles, the shrine reopened in renewed splendor. ※ Visitor Note: For heritage protection, weekday visits require guided tours only (hourly intervals). Free exploration available on Saturdays only. The annual Jongmyo Daeje ceremony is held on the first Sunday of May.
Highlights
- Joseon royal ancestral shrine, UNESCO since 1995
- 101m Jeongjeon, world's longest single wooden building
- Weekdays by guided tour only; free visits on Saturdays
Details
- Address
- 157 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- District
- 종로구
- Opening Hours
Monday 09:00 to 18:00 Tuesday Closed Wednesday 09:00 to 18:00 Thursday 09:00 to 18:00 Friday 09:00 to 18:00 Saturday 09:00 to 18:00 Sunday 09:00 to 18:00
Location
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