Gyeongbokgung to close during BTS concert at Gwanghwamun

BTS’ upcoming performance scheduled for March 21st KST in the Gwanghwamun area will lead to temporary closures and access restrictions at nearby cultural heritage sites to ensure the safety of both visitors and national heritage.

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on March 1st that it had held a safety countermeasure meeting on February 25 at the annex conference room of the National Palace Museum of Korea.

Officials from the Palace and Tombs Heritage Division, along with representatives from Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung and Changgyeonggung — collectively known as the four major royal palaces — as well as Jongmyo Shrine and the National Palace Museum, attended the meeting.

Participants discussed measures for crowd management during large scale cultural events, strategies to prevent damage to cultural heritage, and on site response plans in light of the recent increase in visitors to the four palaces, Jongmyo and the National Palace Museum. A phased management plan was established as part of the discussions.

As the palace closest to the concert venue, Gyeongbokgung will implement a three stage safety plan. In the first stage, up to one week before the event, the palace will establish coordination with related institutions such as the Jongno Police Station, strengthen perimeter patrols, update emergency contact networks and inspect palace walls and roof tiles around the Gwanghwamun area.

In the second stage, during the week leading up to the event, staff will conduct continuous patrols and ensure that visitors have fully exited buildings and facilities such as palace halls and restrooms.

In the third stage, on the day of the event, March 21, Gyeongbokgung will be completely closed to the public. The palace parking lot will also be shut down and access to the site fully restricted, with all staff operating under an emergency response system.

The National Palace Museum of Korea will also temporarily close on the day of the concert. The museum will operate an emergency response team to inspect key areas around Yeongchumun, Gwanghwamun and Geonchunmun. In cooperation with the police and related agencies, authorities will strengthen vehicle control measures and CCTV monitoring.