The Korea Heritage Service and Korea Heritage Agency are presenting special programs at Jongmyo Shrine as part of the 2025 Fall K-Royal Cultural Festival, celebrating two significant milestones in Korean cultural heritage. The festival commemorates the 30th anniversary of Jongmyo Shrine's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995, as well as the 50th anniversary of Jongmyo Daeje's recognition as an Important Intangible Cultural Heritage in 1975.
The 2025 Fall K-Royal Cultural Festival runs from October 8-12 across Seoul's four royal palaces—Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, and Changgyeonggung—along with Jongmyo Shrine. This year's festival holds special significance as it takes place following the completion of a comprehensive five-year restoration project of Jeongjeon Hall, one of the shrine's most important structures.
Several unique programs have been designed specifically for Jongmyo Shrine during the festival. The Jongmyo Humanities Concert will be held on Wednesday, featuring an educational talk about the restoration process of Jeongjeon Hall and its cultural significance, accompanied by a traditional geomungo performance. Additionally, a specialized Jongmyo Architecture Exploration Tour for teenagers is scheduled for October 11-12, allowing young visitors to discover the Hyangdaecheong Office, Jeongjeon Hall, Yeongnyeongjeon Hall, and Jeonsacheong Office.
One of the festival's highlight events is "The Palace Concert: Jeryeak Meets Pungnyu," which will take place at Yeongnyeongjeon Hall from October 9-12. This diverse performance program showcases both traditional Jeryeak—the original form of royal ceremonial song and dance used to honor Joseon Dynasty royalty—and contemporary crossover performances that blend traditional and modern elements.
Jongmyo Daeje, the ceremonial rite performed at Jongmyo Shrine to honor the kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty, represents one of Korea's most important cultural traditions. The shrine itself serves as a sacred space where the spirits of Joseon royalty are enshrined and honored through elaborate rituals that have been preserved for centuries.
According to an official from the Korea Heritage Agency, this autumn festival represents more than just a cultural celebration. "This autumn festival, held after the completion of a five-year restoration of Jeongjeon Hall, will serve as an opportunity to shed new light on the historical and cultural value of Jongmyo and to widely promote its significance," the official stated. "Through a variety of programs encompassing architecture, the humanities and music, we hope that both domestic and international visitors will gain a deeper understanding of Jongmyo and experience its unique resonance."
