"Yeongchunheon, Spring Study" is a new program this year that uses Yeongchunheon, a pavilion at Changgyeonggung Palace that served as the workspace of King Jeongjo, a renowned ruler of the late Joseon Dynasty, allowing visitors to enjoy reading alongside various healing experiences. Jeongjo was born at Gyeongchunjeon in Changgyeonggung and favored Yeongchunheon, located about 70 meters to the northeast. At Jipbokheon, which adjoins Yeongchunheon, Jeongjo's father Crown Prince Sado and his son King Sunjo were born.
In detail, visitors can enjoy reading or engage in reading activities inside Yeongchunheon. They can also sample royal court tea, which enhances the satisfaction of a workation experience. The program then moves to the Grand Greenhouse to the north, where participants become royal court perfumers and experience making hyangnang (scent sachets).
This was part of a media preview event for the 2026 Spring Royal Culture Festival programs organized by the Korea Heritage Service's Korea Heritage Agency. The Royal Culture Festival is being held at Seoul's five main palaces, including Gyeongbokgung, and Jongmyo Shrine. It opened on the 25th and runs through May 3.
At Tongmyeongjeon in Changgyeonggung, which was the living space of Joseon Dynasty queens, the "Queen's Taste" program is underway. Also new this year, the program illuminates the decorative culture and wrapping arts of women in the Joseon palace. Actors playing a queen and court ladies perform an audience-participation "situational play" announcing that "the crown princess has conceived," followed by hands-on practice of traditional bojagi wrapping techniques "to prepare gifts" with expert instructors.
A separate space within Tongmyeongjeon also displays crafts by transmitters of intangible cultural heritage.
According to the Korea Heritage Agency, the number of visitors to palaces and Jongmyo Shrine during last year's spring and fall Royal Culture Festival periods totaled 1.39 million (700,000 in spring and 690,000 in fall). The agency is aiming for 1.65 million visitors this year, a 19% increase from last year.
Participation in the festival's main programs has been rising steadily: 240,000 in 2022, 260,000 in 2023, 670,000 in 2024, and 830,000 in 2025.
