In the heart of Seoul, behind Gyeongbokgung’s grand gates and stone courtyards, lies a quiet space few have ever entered. It’s a place that once held the thoughts of a king, the secrets of diplomacy, and the collective memory of an empire, Jibokjae. Today, in the beautiful Spring and Fall seasons of 2025, you can finally step inside this royal library of Gyeongbokgung Palace, only for a limited time!
How? Let’s find out together in the following chapter of our Seoul travel guide. This is a hidden moment and a precious experience you will never want to miss during your Seoul trip!
Gyeongbokgung Royal Library Opens for Limited Time in 2025
Most visitors walk past Jibokjae without even knowing what lies beyond its curved rooftops.
Built in 1891, this serene complex sits tucked into the eastern side of Gyeongbokgung Palace. It’s quieter here—less of the grandeur, more of the personal. It was never meant for parades or court drama. This was where King Gojong read, thought, and met quietly with foreign envoys at a time when Joseon Korea was facing the full force of modernization and international pressure.
Today, this precious hidden Gyeongbokgung royal library is opening its doors to the public for a limited time in 2025.
Jibokjae: A Palace Within a Palace
The name Jibokjae translates to “house of treasures,” and it’s easy to see why. Inside, the walls are lined with books—over 1,700 volumes—including rare records about Joseon’s royal family, historical texts, and philosophical writings.
These are just a glimpse of what once was a 40,000-volume royal collection, now safely archived at Seoul National University and the Academy of Korean Studies. Some books even explore early Western science and technology—proof that Gojong, though a traditional monarch, had an eye on the world beyond his gates.
Beyond a mere reading space, Jibokjae was once a diplomatic lobby for many high-profile guests. The adjacent Hyeopgildang Hall, to the left of Jibokjae, once hosted envoys from the US, UK, Austria, and Japan. It’s one of the few palace buildings to feature ondol—Korea’s traditional underfloor heating—suggesting it was designed not just for mere function, but also comfort, conversation, and reflection.
To the right stands Palujeong Pavilion, the king’s private study. With its glass windows, this place feels less like a royal gathering hall and more like a personal retreat—a detail that adds emotional weight to the space.
And unlike those regular palace visits, you will witness a completely different side of this palace. As you explore the royal library of Gyeongbokgung Palace during your spring or autumn trips in 2025, you will have a chance to immerse yourself in one of your favorite scenes in the Korean sageuk drama and channel the ancient culture of South Korea. You will stand on the very place where the great King sat alone and contemplate with his thoughts.
How and When to Visit the Gyeongbokgung Royal Library (Jibokjae)
The royal library of Gyeongbokgung Palace is open from 10 AM to 4 PM, Wednesday through Sunday, until October 2025.
Pay attention as the place will close on Mondays and Tuesdays, as well as in July and August due to the summer heat. Visitors should also note that it may close during Chuseok holidays or special palace events.
Access is included with your standard 3,000 KRW (2.11 USD) admission ticket to Gyeongbokgung Palace. No extra reservation is required.
However, you are totally advised to arrive early, especially on weekends. After all, the library is expected to draw increased interest throughout spring and fall.
Why This Visit Feels Different from the Usual Palace Tour
So, why should you visit the Gyeongbokgung Palace royal library in 2025?
First and foremost, it’s because this opportunity is totally limited! It’s definitely not every day you get to explore hidden corners of the magnificent Gyeongbokgung Palace—areas typically off-limits to the public. Who knows when a chance like this will come around again?
But the best reason of all? It’s the experience. Visiting the royal library at Gyeongbokgung Palace gives you that special sense of quiet intimacy—an authentic palace moment that no other place could ever replicate.
While Gyeongbokgung dazzles with ornate gates and ceremonial courtyards, Jibokjae invites you to pause. There’s no dramatic reenactment, no costumed guards, no fanfare. Just books, history, and space to imagine what it meant to be a monarch on the edge of old and new Korea.
There’s something moving about walking through a library that once held a kingdom’s knowledge—especially one so tucked away, so easily overlooked. You can almost picture Gojong turning the pages himself, searching for answers in ink and scroll, just as Korea stood on the brink of modernization.
This isn’t just a visit to a royal study. It’s a brush with a mind that tried to hold the old world steady as a new one rushed in.
Add Depth to Your Seoul Spring or Autumn Itinerary
Planning to visit during cherry blossom season or autumn foliage? Pair your library visit with nearby experiences that echo the same thoughtful mood.
In spring, start your morning at Gyeongbokgung while the light is soft and the tour crowds are still forming. Explore Jibokjae while the scent of magnolias floats in the air, then walk south to Seochon, one of Seoul’s most historic neighborhoods, for a traditional tea at a hanok café.
In autumn, stop by the library just before golden hour, then head to Samcheong-dong for the most romantic evening stroll lined with crimson trees and cozy book cafés. The transition from the king’s bookshelves to your own tea and poetry moment feels seamless.
Gyeongbokgung Royal Library: A Once-Hidden Room Now Briefly Yours – in 2025 Only!
Finally, not every royal space in Korea was designed just for grandeur or ceremony. Some, like Jibokjae, were built for solitude, diplomacy, and peaceful reflection. In a city as vibrant and fast-paced as Seoul, stepping into such a beautifully preserved and suddenly accessible space feels like quietly slipping through a side door into the past.
But remember, the royal library at Gyeongbokgung Palace will only be open temporarily in 2025. Come October, it will close its doors again. The books will fall silent, the rooms will return to quiet, and Jibokjae will fade gently back into the palace’s embrace.
Until then, seize the chance—not merely to learn, but to truly feel. Experience what remains when the crowds disappear, and the king’s private sanctuary briefly becomes your own.
Jibokjae, Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Limited Event: April to October (closed in July, August, and Chuseok holiday)
- Address: 161 Sajik-ro, 종로1.2.3.4가동 Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea.
- Phone: +82 70 7795 4309
- Opening Hours: 10 AM to 4 PM (Wed to Mon)
- Admission Ticket: 3,000 KRW (2.11 USD)
- Website: Gyeongbokgung Official Site
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