Free admission during Chuseok (추석) sounds straightforward until you arrive at a museum on the one day it closes, or discover that “free palace admission” does not include Changdeokgung’s Secret Garden. The headline is simple. The operating details are not.
For 2026, the official Chuseok public-holiday period runs from Thursday, September 24 through Saturday, September 26. Chuseok Day is Friday, September 25, and the government’s major tourism and highway benefits continue through Sunday, September 27.
This guide separates genuine holiday discounts from attractions that are already free year-round. It also explains normal admission prices, closure dates, foreign-visitor eligibility, ticket requirements, and the highway toll rules that matter if you are driving a rental car.
2026 Dates and Why Korea Offers Free Admission
The dates visitors need to mark are September 24–27, 2026. The first three dates form the official Chuseok holiday, while Sunday, September 27 extends the practical travel period and is included in the announced palace, highway, and MMCA benefits.
| Date | Status | Best use of the day |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, Thursday | Official holiday; free-admission program begins | Palaces, MMCA branches, or a carefully planned road trip |
| September 25, Friday | Chuseok Day; highest museum-closure risk | Royal palaces, Jongmyo Shrine, royal tombs, or outdoor heritage sites |
| September 26, Saturday | Official holiday | Palaces or museums that have reopened after Chuseok Day |
| September 27, Sunday | Weekend and final benefit day | Final free-admission visit; allow extra time for return traffic |
Why is it free?
The free access is not a foreign-tourist coupon or a permanent price change. It is part of Korea’s Chuseok public-support measures. Government announcements frame the program as a way to reduce holiday household expenses, widen access to national culture, and encourage domestic tourism and leisure activity.
The same policy package includes free expressway tolls. That is why palace admission and highway charges disappear during the same four-day window even though they are managed by different public bodies.
If the rest of your itinerary includes trains, restaurants, hospitals, or shopping, the complete 2026 Chuseok survival guide covers the parts of the holiday that do not fit on an admission ticket.
The Best Free Palaces and Heritage Sites
According to the Korea Heritage Service’s Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, the four major Seoul palaces, Jongmyo Shrine, and the Joseon royal tombs are open without general admission charges from September 24 through September 27.
The four palaces are Gyeongbokgung (경복궁), Changdeokgung (창덕궁), Deoksugung (덕수궁), and Changgyeonggung (창경궁). In practice, Gyeongbokgung is the easiest choice for a first-time visitor because it is large, centrally located, and hosts royal-guard ceremonies. Changdeokgung is the better architectural choice, but its most famous garden has a separate rule.
| Attraction | Normal adult price | 2026 Chuseok arrangement | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gyeongbokgung Palace | 3,000 KRW (about $2.15 USD, approximate, based on recent rates) | Free September 24–27 | Special programs and restricted areas may follow separate schedules. |
| Changdeokgung Palace buildings | 3,000 KRW (~$2.15) | Free September 24–27 | The Secret Garden is excluded. |
| Changdeokgung Secret Garden | 5,000 KRW (~$3.60) | Not covered by the free-opening program | Separate booking and timed guided access apply. |
| Deoksugung Palace | 1,000 KRW (~$0.70) | Free September 24–27 | MMCA Deoksugung has its own ticketing procedure. |
| Changgyeonggung Palace | 1,000 KRW (~$0.70) | Free September 24–27 | Regular guided interpretation is suspended during the holiday. |
| Jongmyo Shrine | 1,000 KRW (~$0.70) | Free September 24–27 | Holiday access is freer than the usual reservation-based system. |
| Joseon royal tombs | Usually 500–1,000 KRW (~$0.35–$0.70), depending on the site | All 40 tomb sites included September 24–27 | Hours and final entry vary by individual site. |
Which one should a foreign visitor choose?
Choose Gyeongbokgung if this is your first palace and you want the most recognizable architecture. The changing-of-the-guard ceremony is scheduled at 10:00 and 14:00, with guard-duty ceremonies at 11:00 and 13:00 and a patrol ceremony at 15:00. These performances do not require advance reservations, but weather or operational conditions can cause changes.
Choose Changdeokgung if architecture and UNESCO heritage matter more than scale. The palace-building area is free, but the Secret Garden remains a paid, capacity-controlled experience. Regular palace-building interpretation is not offered from September 24–27, while Secret Garden tours continue according to their schedule.
Choose Deoksugung for the easiest palace-and-art combination. It sits beside City Hall Station, and MMCA Deoksugung is inside the palace grounds. During the holiday waiver, you avoid the usual palace entrance charge, but you must still obtain any ticket required by the art museum.
Choose Jongmyo if you prefer ritual history to decorative palace rooms. What actually changes during Chuseok is not only the price: visitors can enter freely instead of navigating the shrine’s usual reservation-centered viewing procedure.
Museums and Art Museums: Free Does Not Always Mean Open
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, commonly called MMCA, has four branches. Their 2026 Chuseok schedules are not identical.
| MMCA branch | Free dates | Closed date | Normal pricing context |
|---|---|---|---|
| MMCA Seoul | September 24, 26 and 27 | September 25 | Individual exhibitions often start around 2,000 KRW (~$1.45); a combined ticket can reach 10,000 KRW (~$7.20) when at least three paid exhibitions operate. |
| MMCA Gwacheon | September 24–27 | Open throughout the four-day period | Exhibition charges vary; Monday, September 28 is a post-holiday closure. |
| MMCA Deoksugung | September 24–27 | Open throughout the four-day period | The museum and palace normally have separate admission arrangements; September 28 is closed. |
| MMCA Cheongju | September 24–27 | Open throughout the four-day period | Open-storage areas are normally free, while selected exhibitions may have separate conditions; September 28 is closed. |
The art shuttle connecting Seoul, Deoksugung, and Gwacheon is suspended from September 24 through September 28. If you are considering more than one branch, the MMCA branch-by-branch guide explains how their collections, locations, and transport options differ.
National Museum of Korea
The National Museum of Korea in Yongsan is often described as a free Chuseok attraction, but its permanent galleries are already free year-round. Special and temporary exhibitions can carry separate charges.
On September 25, 2026, the museum’s permanent galleries and Special Exhibition Halls 1 and 2 are closed for Chuseok Day. The outdoor exhibition area remains open. The practical museum dates are therefore September 24, 26, and 27, subject to exhibition-specific reservations.
National Palace Museum of Korea
The National Palace Museum of Korea, beside Gyeongbokgung, also offers general admission free throughout the year. It is closed on September 25. This produces a common planning trap: Gyeongbokgung Palace is open and free on Chuseok Day, while the indoor museum next to it is closed.
Regional national museums
National museums in cities such as Gyeongju, Jeonju, Daegu, Iksan, Cheongju, and Chuncheon generally provide free permanent exhibitions, but most close on Chuseok Day. Holiday performances or traditional-game programs may run on September 24, 26, or 27. Check the individual museum, not merely the national-museum brand name.
Are Highway Tolls Free During Chuseok?
Yes. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that tolls on Korea’s expressways, including covered privately operated expressways, are waived from 00:00 on September 24 until 24:00 at the end of September 27, 2026.
The special transport period itself begins on September 23, but the toll exemption begins one day later. Do not confuse the two dates.
Do foreign drivers and rental cars qualify?
Yes. The exemption is applied to eligible vehicles passing through the toll system, not to the driver’s nationality or residence status. A foreign tourist driving a rental car receives the same toll waiver as a Korean driver.
No passport, residence card, coupon, or online application is required. Rental fees, fuel, insurance, parking, traffic fines, and any separate rental-company service charges remain payable.
How to pass through the tollgate
| Payment method | What to do | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Hi-Pass | Keep the device powered on with its card inserted and use the Hi-Pass lane normally. | The transaction is processed as a waived or 0 KRW toll. |
| Staffed or general lane | Take an entry ticket where required and submit it at the exit tollgate. | The toll attendant applies the exemption. |
| Rental car with built-in Hi-Pass | Confirm with the rental company that the device and card are installed and active. | The toll itself is waived during the eligible passage window. |
Vehicles entering shortly before the waiver begins and exiting after midnight on September 24 can qualify. Vehicles entering before midnight on September 27 and exiting after the date changes can also qualify under the announced boundary rule. The key is that the trip crosses a tollgate within the recognized exemption arrangement.
What was the original toll?
Unlike a palace ticket, a highway does not have one normal price. The charge depends on the entry and exit interchanges, vehicle class, route, private-road segments, and possible discounts or surcharges. Use the Korea Expressway Corporation’s official toll calculator for the exact normal amount you are saving.
Warnings and Downsides Foreign Visitors Should Know
Free attractions become crowded attractions
Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, and central Seoul museums can receive heavier family traffic during the holiday. Arrive near opening time, especially if you want uncluttered photographs or need a same-day exhibition ticket.
September 25 has conflicting schedules
Do not use one institution’s rule to predict another. On September 25, the royal palaces remain open, MMCA Seoul closes, the National Museum of Korea closes its indoor galleries, and the other three MMCA branches stay open. “National museum” is not one universal operating schedule.
Special exhibitions may still cost money
A museum’s permanent collection may be free while a touring exhibition remains paid. Likewise, free entry to a recreational forest does not cover cabins, campsites, parking, or reserved activities. Read what the word “admission” actually covers.
Post-holiday closures can catch late visitors
MMCA Gwacheon, Deoksugung, and Cheongju close on Monday, September 28. Other institutions may also substitute a closure after operating through the holiday. Normal weekly hours shown in a map application may not reflect that change.
Transportation may cost more than admission saves
A 1,000 KRW palace ticket is a small saving compared with an unnecessary taxi ride or rental-car delay. Within Seoul, the subway is usually more predictable than driving during a national holiday. The broader difference between official holidays and actual attraction closures is covered in Korea’s 2026 public-holiday guide.
A Practical Four-Day Sightseeing Plan
- September 24: MMCA Seoul and Gyeongbokgung. Reserve or issue the free MMCA ticket first, then walk to the palace. Keep at least two hours for each attraction.
- September 25: Deoksugung, Changdeokgung, or Jongmyo. This is the strongest palace day because several major indoor museums close. Avoid planning the National Museum of Korea or MMCA Seoul.
- September 26: National Museum of Korea. Use the reopened indoor galleries as a weather-proof option. Confirm whether any special exhibition requires a paid reservation.
- September 27: A royal tomb or MMCA branch. Choose a destination close to your accommodation if you have an evening train, bus, or flight. Return traffic can be severe.
Three checks to make before every visit
- Confirm whether the attraction is open on your exact date.
- Confirm whether “free” applies to the general entrance, special exhibition, guided tour, or all three.
- Check the final admission time, which is usually earlier than the building’s closing time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can foreign visitors use the Chuseok free-admission benefit?
Yes. The announced free opening applies at the entrance level and does not require Korean citizenship. The Korea Heritage Service even publishes multilingual notices for foreign visitors. Bring a passport only if a separate age-based discount, reservation, or identity check requires it.
When does free palace admission end?
It ends after the final operating hours on Sunday, September 27, 2026. Normal admission rules resume after the holiday program, subject to each site’s schedule.
Is Changdeokgung’s Secret Garden free?
No. The palace-building area is included, but the Secret Garden is excluded. Its standard adult ticket is 5,000 KRW (~$3.60), and capacity-controlled booking still applies.
Is the National Museum of Korea free?
Its permanent galleries are normally free throughout the year, not only during Chuseok. Paid special exhibitions are separate. Indoor galleries close on September 25, although the outdoor exhibition area remains open.
Is MMCA Seoul open on Chuseok Day?
No. MMCA Seoul closes on Friday, September 25. It offers free admission on September 24, 26, and 27. MMCA Gwacheon, Deoksugung, and Cheongju remain open and free from September 24–27.
Do I need an MMCA ticket if admission is free?
Yes. MMCA explicitly requires online reservation or on-site ticket issuance during the free period. Free admission removes the charge, not the entry-control process.
Are all national museums closed on September 25?
Most national history and regional museums close on Chuseok Day, but MMCA Gwacheon, Deoksugung, and Cheongju are confirmed exceptions in 2026. Verify the individual institution.
Are highway tolls free for foreign tourists?
Yes. The waiver follows the vehicle and eligible toll-road journey, not the driver’s nationality. Foreign residents, tourists, and rental-car users receive the toll exemption under the same conditions.
Do I turn off Hi-Pass because the toll is free?
No. Keep the device powered on, leave the card inserted, and pass through the Hi-Pass lane normally. A general-lane user should also follow the normal ticket procedure.
Are parking and fuel free too?
No. Only the eligible expressway toll is waived. Fuel, parking, rental charges, insurance, congestion costs, and traffic penalties remain your responsibility.
Final Thought
Chuseok gives visitors a slightly odd bargain: the palace gate is free, but the subway ride, coffee, and post-palace snack are still very much employed. For 2026, the useful dates are September 24–27. Seoul’s four major palaces, Jongmyo Shrine, and the Joseon royal tombs waive general admission throughout those four days.
The catch is the calendar. MMCA Seoul is free on September 24, 26, and 27 but closed on Chuseok Day, September 25. MMCA Gwacheon, Deoksugung, and Cheongju remain open and free through all four days. Even when admission costs 0 KRW, you still need an MMCA ticket or reservation. Zero price does not mean zero procedure. Korea likes paperwork too much for that.
Driving works similarly. Highway tolls are waived from midnight on September 24 through midnight at the end of September 27, including participating private expressways. The benefit follows the vehicle, so foreign drivers and rental cars qualify. Keep the Hi-Pass device operating or use the staffed lane normally.
The easiest plan is a palace on September 25 and a museum on another holiday date. Save the Secret Garden for a separately booked visit, check the final-entry time, and expect crowds. Free admission attracts everyone—including people who usually claim museums are “not really their thing.”