Applications are open for the free 2026 Seoul Foreigners’ Palace Walking Event, officially listed as Seoul Foreigners’ Palace Walking Event(Palace Walk Seoul 2026). The event is scheduled for May 31, 2026, from 08:00 to 14:00 at Gwanghwamun Square Nori Madang, with free participation and advance online registration required during the application period. 1
Free Palace Walk Seoul Application: Key Dates and Eligibility

The most important point for applicants is timing. The Event-us application page lists the registration period as April 28, 2026, 10:00 through May 24, 2026, 23:30. 1 Aju Business Daily also reported that applications began on April 28, 2026, and that participation is completely free. 2
The event is designed as a broad public walking program rather than a closed specialist tour. The official notice described eligible participants as foreigners, international students, tourists, and citizens, meaning both visitors and residents can consider applying if they want to join a Seoul palace-area walking event. 3
There is one detail applicants should note carefully: the reported participant cap is not identical across the available records. One Aju Business Daily notice says recruitment is first-come, first-served for 3,000 people, while another Aju Business Daily report says first-come, first-served free registration is for 5,000 Korean and international participants. 3 2 Because the application page is the practical place to act, applicants should treat the event as capacity-limited and apply early rather than waiting until the end of the registration window.
The event name is also useful when searching online. The Event-us listing uses the title Seoul Foreigners’ Palace Walking Event(Palace Walk Seoul 2026), so searching for Palace Walk Seoul may help readers identify the application page more directly. 1
Event Schedule, Meeting Place, and Route
The 2026 event is scheduled for Sunday, May 31, 2026, from 08:00 to 14:00. The venue is Gwanghwamun Square Nori Madang, a central location connected to the palace district. 1
The announced walking course starts from Gwanghwamun Square and covers an approximately 7 km route passing Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, and Jogyesa before returning. 3 This makes the event a structured city walk through major historic and cultural points in central Seoul rather than a single-palace visit.
Applicants should also plan transport before registering. The Event-us page states that parking is not available at Gwanghwamun Square and recommends using public transportation. 1 That notice matters because the event begins in the morning, and participants will need to arrive at the starting area before joining the walking program.
Aju Business Daily reported that participants will receive a summer T-shirt, a hat, a brunch set, and bottled water. The same report said cultural performances and a K-culture photo zone are planned for the event day. 2 The organizer was quoted as saying that the event was prepared so participants can join comfortably with only light clothing. 2
What to Know Before Applying
Because participation is free, the main requirement is not a payment decision but completing the application before the listed deadline and before capacity is filled. The application window runs until May 24, 2026, 23:30, but the event is first-come, first-served, so the deadline should not be treated as a guarantee of availability. 1
The event’s audience is broad, but its focus remains clearly connected to international participation in Seoul. The 2025 version was also framed around foreign tourists, international students, and people living in or visiting Korea, while Korean participants were also allowed to join. 4 That background helps explain why the 2026 event name emphasizes foreigners while still including citizens in the eligibility description. 3
The 2025 event also shows the practical scale of the program. Aju Business Daily reported that the 2025 Seoul Foreigners’ Palace Walking Event was held on June 14, 2025, with about 700 foreign participants and about 900 Korean participants. 5 Participants that year walked along Seoul’s historical and cultural axis from the Uijeongbu Historic Site Plaza through places including Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon-ro 5-gil, Changdeokgung Palace, and Changgyeonggung Palace. 5
For 2026, however, applicants should follow the 2026 venue, time, and route, not the previous year’s details. The 2026 start point is Gwanghwamun Square Nori Madang, and the course includes Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, and Jogyesa on an approximately 7 km route. 3
Quick FAQ
Is the 2026 Palace Walk Seoul application free?
Yes. The Event-us application page lists the cost as free, and Aju Business Daily reported that participation is completely free. 1 2
When is the application deadline?
The listed application period ends on May 24, 2026, at 23:30, but recruitment is first-come, first-served, so applicants should not rely only on the final deadline. 1 !Free Palace Walk Seoul application period date route and benefits concept The free 2026 Seoul Foreigners’ Palace Walking Event is a practical option for visitors, international students, residents, and citizens who want a guided walking experience through Seoul’s palace district. Apply through the official event application page during the April 28 to May 24 registration period, confirm the Gwanghwamun Square meeting point, and plan to use public transportation on May 31, 2026.
References
- 서울 외국인 궁궐 걷기대회(Palace Walk Seoul 2026) (이벤터스)
- "5월31일, 궁궐 걷기대회"…내·외국인 5000명 선착순 무료 접수 (아주경제, 2026-04-29)
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- 2025 서울외국인 궁궐 걷기대회 (서울외국인포털, 2025-04-24)
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