When you plan hanbok photos, the first thing to decide is not the rental shop but where the photos will be taken. If a palace or a hanok alley is your backdrop, renting near it keeps your route simple. If you would rather not worry about moving around or the weather, a studio that handles hair and makeup, hanbok and the shoot in one place is easier.
If a polished portrait matters more to you, you can also choose hair and makeup and a profile shoot separately. This article sets out how the three approaches differ, the order to book in, and the hanbok rules to know before entering a palace.
Pick the approach that fits your schedule
If the backdrop has to be a palace, Option 1 suits you best; if you want everything done in one place, Option 2; and if a portrait of your face comes first, Option 3.
| Compare | Option 1. Rent near a palace | Option 2. All-in-one studio | Option 3. Hair and makeup and profile shoot booked separately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo backdrop | Real places such as palaces and hanok alleys | Indoor studio | Indoor studio |
| Getting around | From the rental shop to the shooting location | Everything in one shop | Travel between shops |
| Weather impact | High | Low | Low |
| Where to book | Rental shop, plus a photographer if needed | One studio | A hair and makeup salon and a studio |
| Check first | Palace closing days and rental hours | Price per group size and what you receive | Whether you can be photographed in hanbok |
Option 1. Rent near a palace and shoot outdoors
If a palace or hanok is the star of your photos, choose a rental shop close to where you will shoot. You will not have to travel far in hanbok, and you can spend more of your rental time on photos.
- Order of the day: Arrive at the rental shop, choose a hanbok, get dressed, walk to the palace or alley, shoot, then return the hanbok. Rental periods vary by shop. Some branches in front of Gyeongbokgung split basic hanbok rental into 1.5-hour, 2.5-hour, 4-hour and full-day blocks.
- Counting the time: Not all of the rental time shown is shooting time. One rental brand allows 30 minutes to choose a hanbok and says anything beyond that counts toward your rental time. It also allows about 30 minutes for dressing.
- What is included: Even if lockers and underlayers are included, accessories such as shoes, daenggi hair ribbons and hats may need to be rented separately. Read the full list of inclusions before you book.
- What to bring: Some rental shops ask for a passport or ID. Some charge extra in 10-minute units for late returns, so note the return deadline as well.
- Shooting with a photographer: Under palace rules, ordinary visitors taking souvenir photos do not need to apply separately. Shoots that use specific outfits and props, such as wedding shoots, do require a permit. If you book a photographer, check their conditions for shooting inside the palace first.
- Hanok alleys: Around Bukchon-ro 11-gil, sightseeing is limited to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visiting outside these hours can lead to a fine, and people live there, so move quietly while you take photos.
Option 2. Finish hair, makeup and the shoot in one studio
If you want only one place to book, an all-in-one studio is the simplest choice. K Travel Shoot, near Yeoksam Station in Gangnam, bundles hair and makeup, hanbok fitting, and photo and video shooting into one package.
| Group size | Listed price | Total time | Shooting time | What you receive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | KRW 500,000 | 2 hours 20 minutes | 50 minutes | 5 retouched photos, all original files and one 20-second video |
| 2 people | KRW 1,000,000 | 3 hours | 90 minutes | 5 retouched photos and one 20-second video per person, plus all original files |
| 3 people | KRW 1,400,000 | 3 hours 30 minutes | 120 minutes | 5 retouched photos and one 20-second video per person, plus all original files |
| 4 people | KRW 1,800,000 | 4 hours | 150 minutes | 5 retouched photos and one 20-second video per person, plus all original files |
Prices and package details are based on the product page as of November 2, 2026. Please check that page again before you book.
For any group size, the package combines a 10-minute consultation, 60 minutes of hair and makeup, 10 minutes of fitting and 10 minutes of wrapping up, plus the shooting time. Results are listed as delivered on the same day.
This is a studio shoot, not a palace shoot. If you also want photos with a palace backdrop, plan Option 1 on a separate day or at a separate time.
If you would rather have photos focused on your face and mood without hanbok, the same studio also offers a solo beauty profile shoot. It includes hair and makeup, photos and video, and the listed price is KRW 200,000.
Option 3. Choose hair and makeup and a profile shoot separately
This approach suits you if you only want styling before a palace shoot, or if you want a separate profile photo. You can combine shops yourself, but you will need to work out the travel time between them.
If you need an early start, look first at shops whose pages show the earliest opening times. Listed opening hours and actual bookable times can differ, so confirm by inquiry.
Hair and makeup
| Shop | Nearest subway station | Main service and listed price | Listed opening hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muted | Apgujeong Rodeo Station, Gangnam-gu Office Station | Hair + Makeup Package KRW 181,000 | Mon–Fri 06:00–20:00, Sat–Sun 06:00–19:00 |
| DIONY | Apgujeong Rodeo Station | 1:1 Customized Hair & Makeup KRW 160,000 | Daily 07:00–19:00 |
| Mupsy Hongdae | Hongik University Station | Women’s Hair + Makeup KRW 198,000, Men’s Hair + Makeup KRW 118,000 | Daily 07:30–20:00 |
| HOSU DOSAN | Gangnam-gu Office Station | Women’s Styling + Makeup KRW 150,000 | Wed–Sun 09:30–18:00, closed Mon–Tue |
Profile photos
| Shop | Nearest subway station | Main service and listed price | Listed opening hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohn Studio | Myeongdong Station | Profile, ID photo and hair and makeup package KRW 179,000 | Closed Wed; Tue 10:30–14:00; other days 10:30–18:00 |
| EYESU Studio | Seongsu Station | Profile Photo KRW 200,000, Hair & Make up KRW 99,000 | Mon–Sat 10:00–18:00, closed Sun |
| VIVIDRAW STUDIO | Apgujeong Rodeo Station | Personal profile photo KRW 132,000 | Daily 10:00–20:00 |
Prices and opening hours are based on each shop’s page as of November 2, 2026. Holiday hours vary by shop.
The shops above do not specialise in hanbok. Before booking, ask specifically for what you want, such as “Can you do an updo that suits hanbok?” or “Can I be photographed wearing hanbok?”
To compare bundled and separate bookings further, read our article on whether to bundle hair, makeup and photos or book them separately. Prices and locations of profile studios are covered in our comparison of passport and profile photo studios in Seoul.
Rules to check before entering a palace in hanbok
As of November 2, 2026, foreign visitors can also enter the palaces and Jongmyo Shrine free of charge when wearing hanbok that meets the criteria. However, in October 2026 the Korea Heritage Service said in a report to the National Assembly that it would review the scope of recognition and how the scheme is run, and no date has been set for adjusting admission fees. Please check the official guidance again just before your visit.
Even if your outfit does not meet the criteria, you can still enter by paying the admission fee. For foreign adults aged 19 to 64, it is KRW 3,000 at Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung and KRW 1,000 at Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Jongmyo. If free entry is your goal, the rental fee may cost more, so it is better to choose hanbok for the photos and the experience.
| Category | Recognised for free entry | Not recognised |
|---|---|---|
| Overall outfit | Both traditional and modern hanbok, worn as a full top and bottom | Only a durumagi (overcoat) worn over other clothes |
| Top | A jeogori with a wrap-over collar; goreum ties are optional | A top worn like a T-shirt |
| Bottom | A skirt of any style, or saebok-style trousers | A jeogori with jeans, or hanbok bottoms with a T-shirt |
| One-piece styles | A jeogori and skirt worn as separate pieces | A one-piece hanbok dress without a jeogori |
According to Yonhap News, wearing only a cheollik, gollyongpo or dopo is treated as wearing an outer garment alone and is not recognised. Clothing with a very short jeogori or excessive exposure may also be refused. Wearing hanbok designed for another gender still qualifies for free entry.
If you are choosing a heavily modified rental hanbok, ask the rental shop, “Does this meet the criteria for free palace entry?” The final decision is made at the palace entrance.
Palace closing days and last admission
Check closing days before you set your shooting date. If a regular closing day falls on a public holiday, the palace stays open that day and closes on the next day that is not a public holiday.
| Palace | Regular closing day | Last admission |
|---|---|---|
| Gyeongbokgung | Tuesday | Nov–Feb 16:00, Mar–May and Sep–Oct 17:00, Jun–Aug 17:30 |
| Changdeokgung | Monday | Nov–Jan 16:30, Feb–May and Sep–Oct 17:00, Jun–Aug 17:30 |
| Changgyeonggung | Monday | 20:00 all year (closes 21:00) |
| Deoksugung | Monday | 20:00 all year (closes 21:00) |
Based on the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center visitor information as of November 2, 2026. Viewing and shooting areas may change depending on events or the weather.
Plan your day backwards from the deadlines
For a hanbok day, the palace’s last admission time and the hanbok return time are fixed first. Work backwards from those times and your booking times fall into place.
- Check that your visit is not on a closing day and what time last admission is.
- Decide how long to stay inside the palace, then add the travel time between the rental shop and the palace.
- Add time for choosing a hanbok and getting dressed. Going by one rental brand’s guidance, each takes about 30 minutes.
- If you are having hair and makeup done, add that time too. Examples include about 40 minutes for makeup at a rental shop and 60 minutes for hair and makeup at a studio.
- If you are being styled in another neighbourhood, also add the travel time from that shop to the rental shop.
If you have included a skin treatment in the same trip, ask the clinic first when you can wear makeup and spend time outdoors. Aftercare advice differs from person to person, so the schedule in this article cannot replace it.
Questions to ask before booking
Try adding the questions below to your booking message as they are.
- Is the listed price per person or for the whole group?
- Which of these are included: hanbok, petticoat, shoes and hair accessories?
- When does the rental time start, and what time is the return deadline?
- Do I need a passport, ID or deposit?
- Does this hanbok meet the criteria for free palace entry?
- How many retouched photos are there, and how and when will I receive the original files?
- How do changes and cancellations work if it rains or my plans change?
- When and how do I pay?
- Which consultation languages and contact channels can I use?
Frequently asked questions
Can foreign visitors enter the palaces for free in hanbok?
Yes. The Royal Palaces and Tombs Center says free entry applies to both Korean and foreign visitors. You need to wear a jeogori with a skirt or trousers, and because the scheme is under review, please check the official guidance again just before your visit.
Does a hanbok rental include hair and makeup?
In most cases you need to check separately. At rental shops it is sometimes an optional extra, while the K Travel Shoot hanbok package in Option 2 includes hair and makeup.
Can I take hanbok photos on a Tuesday, when Gyeongbokgung is closed?
You cannot enter Gyeongbokgung on its regular closing day. On Tuesdays you can choose a palace that closes on Mondays instead, such as Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung or Deoksugung, or go for a studio shoot. In weeks with public holidays, closing days may change.
Can I visit a palace in hanbok in the evening?
Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung are open until 9 p.m., with last admission at 8 p.m. However, the rental shop’s return time may be earlier, so check the return deadline first.
Can I shoot inside a palace with a photographer?
Souvenir photos by ordinary visitors are treated as permitted, but wedding shoots require a permit application. Shooting may be restricted in crowded areas. When you book a photographer, ask about the shooting scope and whether a permit is needed.
Can men or people of another gender wear hanbok?
Yes. Wearing hanbok designed for another gender still qualifies for free entry. Rental sizes and hair and makeup packages vary by shop, so check them when you book.
Once you decide where to shoot, the rest of your bookings fall into order. If this is your first booking, also read Six Steps to Know Before Your First Beauty Booking in Korea.
