Healing Found in the Palace: Experiences of 3,000 People

If you want to pause your busy life for a moment, take a trip to the serene night of Changdeokgung Palace in Jongno-gu, Seoul. What is the secret behind the special healing experienced by 3,000 people?

Put your smartphone aside for a moment, and as you follow the guide past Donhwamun, time seems to flow slowly. Kim Seo-yeon (34), who participated in the Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour, says, "After staring at a monitor all day at work, coming here feels like I can breathe again."

Why Did 3,000 People Choose Palace Healing?

The Cultural Heritage Administration and the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center invited 3,052 socially disadvantaged individuals to the palace from May to November 2025 to provide them with a special experience. At the Changdeokgung Herbal Tea House, participants enjoyed royal herbal teas and court snacks while experiencing the tea ceremony culture, and at Gyeongbokgung's Suragan, they had the opportunity to feel the food culture of the Joseon Dynasty through royal cuisine.

1,515 people participated in the Changdeokgung Herbal Tea House program, and 668 people enjoyed the beauty of the palace through the Moonlight Tour.

Beyond simple cultural experiences, this program focused on the 'recovery' of participants. Escaping the fast-paced daily life to walk slowly, quietly sip tea, and appreciate the harmony of nature and architecture under the moonlight becomes a healing experience in itself.

Why is 'Mental Recovery' Important in 2025?

The health trend in 2025 focuses on 'mental health' and 'well-being'. Meditation apps like Calm and Headspace help with stress management and sleep improvement, and various mental health programs are gaining popularity.

According to KB Financial Group's 2024 Korea Wellness Report, 'wellness', which pursues both physical and mental health, has become an important trend in Korea as well.

However, while the Western-centered wellness industry expands, the wisdom of recovery inherent in our traditional culture has been overlooked. The palace healing program is a meaningful attempt to fill this gap.

Three Special Elements of 'Recovery' Offered by the Palace

The palace was designed considering the harmony of nature, architecture, and humanity. Time spent here becomes a digital detox and an experience of regaining lost senses.

First, it is the reconnection with nature. The Buyongji in the Changdeokgung garden and the Gyeonghoeru in Gyeongbokgung, where water, trees, and stones come together, create a sense of peace. While digital meditation apps help focus on the present, the palace itself is a space that leads you to stay in the present.

Second, it is the aesthetics of slowness. The palace programs do not prioritize time efficiency. The process of brewing a cup of herbal tea, the time spent walking slowly under the moonlight, and the moments savoring royal cuisine all allow participants to experience recovery through slowness.

Third, it is communal recovery. The palace programs are not about individual healing but about finding comfort within a community by sharing tea and stories together. You can feel a sense of connection during the time spent walking together and sitting together to drink tea.

Bringing the Wisdom of the Palace into Daily Life

The recovery experience gained in traditional cultural spaces does not end as a one-time event. The habit of drinking herbal tea, practicing slow walking, and spending quiet time in nature are all methods of recovery that can be practiced in daily life.

The Cultural Heritage Administration continues its efforts to modernize traditional culture by unveiling new media art videos (Changdeokgung's Wall Paintings, Digital National Treasure 530) on the Incheon Airport media wall.

How about spending a special day at the palace in the second half of 2025? You will encounter a 'time of recovery' that you need right now, not just a legacy of the past.