How to Rent Hanbok in Gyeongbokgung (and Get In for Free)
You can rent a hanbok near Gyeongbokgung for roughly 10,000 to 15,000 won for two hours, and wearing it means you can enter the palace without paying the 3,000 won adult ticket. Bring your passport for the deposit, avoid Tuesdays because the palace is closed, and book online if you’re going on a weekend.
Do You Really Get In Free With a Hanbok?
Yes, and nationality doesn’t matter. Visitors wearing hanbok properly can have the normal 3,000 won adult admission fee waived. You can also skip the ticket line and go straight to the entrance gate, Heungnyemun, while wearing your hanbok.
The night opening works the same way. Hanbok wearers can enter on the spot without booking ahead, but there is a daily limit on free entries, so check the current rules before planning an evening around it. That cap is the one part of the system I find a little vague, so it’s worth confirming rather than assuming.
What Counts as “Wearing Hanbok”
The rule is simpler than people expect. You need both a top (jeogori) and a bottom, meaning a skirt or pants. A few things that are fine:
- Modernized hanbok and fusion styles
- Themed outfits, including king and queen costumes
- Any gender in any piece (a man in a skirt or a woman in pants is fine)
And a few that aren’t:
- Only a top or only a bottom
- Anything too revealing
- Regular clothes that just look a bit like hanbok
I like that the fusion and themed sets count. Some people assume only the most traditional style qualifies, but it doesn’t, so you can pick whatever you actually want to wear.
Where to Rent
Rental shops cluster around Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3, near exits 2, 3 and 4. More of them are spread out toward Anguk Station. You can walk out of the station and find several within a few minutes, which makes comparing sets in person pretty easy.
Prices below are rough 2026 averages for a two-hour rental:
| Type | About 2 hours |
|---|---|
| Traditional hanbok | 10,000 – 15,000 won |
| Themed / premium hanbok | 20,000 – 35,000+ won |
The base price covers the outfit. Hair styling, a gat (the traditional hat), shoes, a bag and an underskirt can all cost extra depending on the shop, so ask what’s included before you pick a set.
What to Bring
Mostly just two things:
- Passport or ID. The shop keeps it as a deposit until you return the hanbok.
- Cash or a card. You’ll need it for add-ons.
Booking Online vs. Walking In
Walking in works. Online booking tends to work better, though. Platforms like Klook, Creatrip and Trip.com sometimes come with a discount or free hair braiding service, depending on the shop and the listing.
On weekends and in peak season, shops serve people with reservations first. If you walk in then, expect to wait, and some of your two hours may go to standing around instead of walking around the palace. On a quiet weekday, it matters much less.
Don’t Go on Tuesday
Gyeongbokgung closes every Tuesday. Wearing hanbok doesn’t change that, so you can’t get in even if you’re fully dressed. It’s an easy mistake to make on a short trip, and hard to fix once you’ve already paid for a rental.
Lockers and Changing Rooms
Most rental shops have lockers. You change there, leave your regular clothes and bag in the locker, and walk to the palace with only what you need. It saves you from carrying a backpack in a long skirt.
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Winter and Summer
In winter, wear a thin Heattech layer under the jeogori, because hanbok isn’t built for cold weather the way a coat is. Many shops rent a furry vest called a baeja for a small extra fee, and I’d add one in the colder months.
Summer is the opposite problem. The underskirt makes the skirt surprisingly hot, so go early in the morning, before the heat peaks.
If you’re still deciding between a traditional set and a themed one, the entry rule treats them the same. It mostly comes down to which one you’d rather be wearing when you reach the gate.
