Enjoying Royal Confections at Gyeongbokgung Palace

Hello! In the previous post, I introduced the Gogojae Palace Tea Ceremony offered by the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation. This time, I hear that you can also enjoy palace tea ceremonies at Gyeongbokgung Palace. It's an annual event, but it's only held during a specific period, so it's not currently operating. However, it's about to start soon, so I'd like to introduce it to you.

First, let me tell you about Saenggwabang. Located in the Sojubang building of Gyeongbokgung Palace, 'Saenggwabang' is one of the six departments (Yukcheoso: six departments in charge of the royal household during the Joseon Dynasty; including the Chim-bang, Subang, Sesugan, Sojubang, Sedapbang, and Saenggwabang) and was where the 'King and Queen's' desserts and special dishes were prepared. It was also called 'Saengmulbang' or 'Saenggeotbang'. The Gyeongbokgung Saenggwabang program is a paid experience program designed to allow you to enjoy the palace snacks and palace medicinal teas that the King actually ate, based on the contents of the Joseon Wangjo Sillok (Annals of the Joseon Dynasty), even today. Apparently, this event started in 2016 when the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation created a special experience event for a small number of people to enjoy palace snacks and medicinal tea.

The event period is held twice a year, in the first and second half of the year, and since it has a fixed period, it is not operated every day. It is mainly held during the spring or autumn when the weather is nice. Operating hours are from 10:00 to 16:40.

Next, I will explain how to participate.

① First, access the online ticket booking site (Ticketlink). → ② Select the date, session, and set (medicinal tea is selected on-site) and pay (by card). → ③ [On-site] Receive the tea ticket after selecting the palace medicinal tea at the information desk. → ④ Seat guidance and assignment. → ⑤ Exchange the palace snack set for the tea ticket. → ⑥ You can then enjoy the palace snack and tea.

※ The Gyeongbokgung Saenggwabang program is also available only after applying online, so you must purchase tickets through the designated link within the specified period and time.

The interior of Saenggwabang is decorated like this. Since Saenggwabang also requires seat reservations, it is divided into sessions. It is a seated position, and snacks are served on a small low table. Isn't the interior traditional and full of Korean beauty?

Initially, it was easy to enter the program, but it has become so popular on SNS that the term 'gung-keting (gung + ticketing)' has emerged, and the competition for reservations has become fierce. I also tried ticket booking in the second half of last year, but due to the enormous number of people waiting, I had no choice but to fail repeatedly.

Most of the visitors to Saenggwabang are women in their 20s and 30s, and it is said that they have created a trend of wearing hanbok and taking photos near the palace. I believe the reason for Saenggwabang's popularity is due to its authenticity, based on the Joseon Wangjo Sillok, the palace snacks that are not available at regular cafes, and the unique service provided by staff who play the role of palace maids, allowing visitors to experience what it's like to be a king or queen, which adds to its charm.

Now, let's introduce the menu. It's divided into two main sets: the Chodujeomjeungbyeong Set and the Juak Set. The difference lies in the composition of the snacks, it seems.

First, there's the Chodujeomjeungbyeong Set. Priced at 15,000 won, it's the signature menu. The Chodujeomjeungbyeong Set includes Gaeseong Yakgwa, Chamwuijeonggwa, Jatbaksan, Maeyeopgwa, and Gotgamdanji.

Chodujeomjeungbyeong's 'Chodu' means 'roasted red beans'. It's a type of rice cake made with glutinous rice flour, chestnuts, jujubes, and pine nuts, steamed in a steamer with red bean powder. Interestingly, the word 'Yakgwa' means medicinal confectionery. Jatbaksan is a type of rice cracker made with pine nuts mixed with honey or malt and shaped into a rectangle. Chamwuijeonggwa is a traditional confectionery made by soaking or simmering fruits with a unique aroma in honey or sugar.

Maeyeopgwa means 'a type of confectionery that resembles a sparrow perched on a plum blossom tree'. It's made by cutting slits into wheat flour and deep-frying it. Gotgamdanji is a confectionery where walnuts, dried persimmons, and pine nuts are chopped and mixed with citron marmalade, and the filling is put inside.

When you first hear the names, they may sound unfamiliar, but once you understand their meaning, don't they sound delicious?

Next is the Juak Set. Priced at 12,000 won, it includes Juak, Salyeotgangjeong, Maeyeopgwa, Geumgyuljeonggwa, Sagajeonggwa, and Gotgamdanji.

This is the Palace Medicinal Tea. When you choose the Chodujeomjeungbyeong Set or the Juak Set, you can choose from a variety of palace medicinal teas.

There are Gyeongokdaem (signature menu), Samgyulda (ginseng, tangerine peel, jujube), Gamgukda (chrysanthemum, goji berry), Damgangda (ginger, honey), Omizada (schizandra), and Jehotang (ginseng, tangerine peel, jujube).

• Gyeongokgo is a medicinal ingredient made with ginseng, Poria cocos, Rehmannia glutinosa, and honey, and it means 'a precious medicine like jade'. According to the Seungjeongwon Ilgi (Journal of Royal Secretariat), King Yeongjo consumed Gyeongokgo to restore his vitality. Gyeongokdaem is a beverage made from the precious medicinal ingredients of Gyeongokgo, so you can enjoy it as tea.
• Samgyulda, according to the Joseon Wangjo Sillok (Annals of the Joseon Dynasty), is a tea made with dried tangerine peel (Jinpi), which promotes smooth flow of Qi, and ginseng, which replenishes Qi. There are records of it being used to treat illnesses, indicating that tea using tangerine peel was a major medicinal ingredient throughout the Joseon Dynasty.
• Gamguk in Gamgukda is also called Hwangguk. It has a sweet, bitter, and cool taste and is non-toxic. According to the Seungjeongwon Ilgi (Journal of Royal Secretariat), Kings Sukjong and Yeongjo kept it nearby and drank it to maintain their health. They mainly drank it to calm their minds when they felt troubled or angry.
• The Donguibogam (Principles and Practices of Eastern Medicine) records that 'ginger eliminates phlegm and descends Qi'. Damgangda was a tea made with ginger and honey offered to King Sunjo when he suffered from indigestion. It was frequently consumed after meals to aid digestion and relieve phlegm.
• Schizandra chinensis has five flavors: sweet, sour, bitter, pungent, and salty, hence its name 'Omizaja'. It's better to consume it as tea for better nutrient absorption than eating it directly as a fruit. Omizada was a medicinal tea made for King Jungjong during the Joseon Dynasty to treat his fever and thirst.

I'd love to try the Gyeongokgo, a precious medicine like jade.

Here are the directions. By subway, it takes about 10 minutes on foot from Exit 1 of Anguk Station on Line 3. If you're using Line 5, it's about 10 minutes on foot from Exit 2 of Gwanghwamun Station. From Exit 4 of Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3, it takes about 12 minutes on foot.

• Exit 5 of Gyeongbokgung Station is not available after 8 PM (nighttime).

By bus, get off at the Beomryeon-sa bus stop on Route 11 in Jongno and walk to the destination. For parking, you can use the Gyeongbokgung East Side Paid Parking Lot (parking fees are at your own expense).

For inquiries related to the event, please call the Palace Utilization Program Call Center at 1522-2295.

※ The event period may change depending on future circumstances.

※ Detailed information about this event (event schedule, booking instructions, etc.) will be available in the [Event Schedule] menu later.

※ Other information about the event (cancellation due to rain, etc.) can be found in the [Important Notices] menu.

This concludes the introduction to the Saenggwabang program, where you can enjoy palace snacks at Gyeongbokgung Palace.