Foreign tourists get free palace entry, up to 25% off duty-free shopping during Korea Grand Festival

Foreign visitors to Korea can tour the country’s main royal palaces for free and get up to 25 percent off at duty-free shops during the second Korea Grand Festival, which runs from Thursday through Nov. 15, the government said Tuesday.

The four main palaces of the Joseon era (1392–1910) — Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung and Changgyeonggung — will be free to enter, along with Jongmyo Shrine and the Joseon royal tombs. K-Heritage stores at the palaces will sell cultural goods at 10 percent off. The National Orchestra of Korea will give a free concert at the National Theater of Korea on Nov. 14.

Twenty-five duty-free shops nationwide, including Lotte, Shilla and Shinsegae, will cut prices on liquor and cosmetics by up to 25 percent.

A welcome week at major airports and seaports starting Oct. 30 will offer tourist information in several languages, up to 25 percent off portable Wi-Fi and eSIMs, and 2,000 won off the airport express train. Visitors can also get up to 35 percent off tours and activities and up to 15 percent off at department stores and Olive Young.

The government said it will promote regional festivals and attractions so that foreign tourists, whose numbers are at a record high, travel beyond the Seoul area.

For overseas online shoppers, Olive Young, Musinsa and other Korean brands that sell directly abroad will run a “Do it like a Korean” promotion on beauty, fashion, K-pop merchandise and food.

The 18-day festival combines discount campaigns that individual ministries used to run on their own into one national event, with about 40,000 companies taking part. Hanwoo, seafood and clothing will be up to 50 percent off, and carmakers and electronics firms will announce their discounts Nov. 1.