National Palace Museum Opens Historic Grounds for Free Outdoor Weddings
A new program at the National Palace Museum of Korea will host 28 free wedding ceremonies beside Gyeongbok Palace through early November, with plans for a major expansion next year.
The National Palace Museum of Korea has begun hosting free outdoor weddings on its historic grounds beside Gyeongbok Palace, opening a prominent cultural venue to couples seeking a lower-cost ceremony surrounded by Korean heritage.
The program, named Gogyeol, will provide 28 ceremonies on weekends and public holidays through Nov. 8. Two weddings are scheduled on each operating day, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., in the museum’s ginkgo courtyard. A newly restored annex decorated with traditional dancheong painting will serve as a reception area for guests.
Cultural authorities designed the initiative to connect historic spaces with everyday life while easing some of the financial pressure associated with marriage. Wedding costs have become a significant concern for many young adults in South Korea, particularly in Seoul, where access to distinctive venues can be expensive and competitive. By providing the site without charge, the museum is presenting cultural heritage as a setting for contemporary family milestones rather than only as an object of observation.
The inaugural ceremony was held Friday afternoon for Mai, an Estonian content creator known in South Korea as the first foreign winner of the Miss Chunhyang competition. Korea Heritage Service chief Huh Min and Estonian Ambassador to South Korea Tanel Sepp were among the guests.
Demand for the first season was strong. The museum selected 28 couples from 293 applicants who applied in April. The chosen group includes international couples, multicultural families, military personnel, firefighters, police officers and young adults who have overcome personal hardship.
The location links the National Palace Museum’s public mission with the neighboring royal complex. Couples will marry beneath a century-old ginkgo tree in a courtyard that offers an autumn backdrop while remaining closely associated with Gyeongbok Palace and Korea’s royal history.
Officials are already planning a substantial expansion. After the response to the debut season, cultural authorities intend to offer 80 outdoor ceremonies across spring and autumn in 2027. The increase would nearly triple the number of couples accommodated and turn the pilot into a recurring heritage program.
The initiative also reflects a broader effort by Korean cultural institutions to make historic sites more accessible and relevant to daily life. For the selected couples, the program combines practical support with a ceremonial setting that would otherwise be difficult to secure in central Seoul.