[Korea Herald = Reporter Lee Jung-ah] Could there be an outing as sweet as savoring royal delicacies while being attentively attended by palace maids at a historical palace? The Cultural Heritage Administration and the Cultural Heritage Foundation will hold the Gyeongbokgung Palace Saenggwabang event from April 16 to June 23.
The Gyeongbokgung Palace Saenggwabang event is a program that allows participants to experience traditional Korean royal desserts and medicinal teas in a royal dessert room known as Saenggwabang, where these delicacies were prepared during the Joseon Dynasty. Participants can enjoy a set of desserts and royal medicinal teas while taking in the serene atmosphere of Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Participants have the option to choose between the ‘Juak set’, which includes juak, dasik, and sa-gwa jeonggwa, and the ‘Gotgam Orim set’, which features dried persimmon orim, yakgwa, and gold citrus jeonggwa. This spring, the dessert selection is expanded to include gotgam orim—dried persimmons cut into petal shapes and adorned with pine nut stamens—and omija gwa-pyeon, a dessert previously served at royal banquets. A new addition to the royal medicinal teas is ‘Gamgil tea’.
Participants will be selected through a lottery. Applications and reservations can be made at Ticket Link, with each account (ID) allowed only one entry. Upon winning, up to two tickets can be purchased.
Entries are accepted from March 26 at 2 PM to April 1 at 2 PM. Winners will be announced on April 3 at 5 PM on the Cultural Heritage Foundation’s website. From April 9 at 2 PM, reservations by phone (☎1588-7890) will be available for those aged 65 and over, persons with disabilities, and veterans on a first-come-first-served basis. This year, the event will be held more frequently, with 16 more sessions and an expected increase in participants by 2,336 compared to last year. The participation fee is 15,000 KRW per person.