▲ This photo from the annual Joseon Royal Tombs Festival held in 2025 is provided by the The Korea Heritage Service. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)

SEOUL, Sept. 14 (Yonhap) -- A cultural event offering visitors a chance to explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Joseon royal tombs and learn about their historical significance will be held next month.

The Korea Heritage Service's Royal Palaces and Tombs Center and the Korea Heritage Agency said Monday they will hold the seventh annual Joseon Royal Tombs Festival from Oct. 17-25 at 12 locations, including Donggureung in Guri, Gyeonggi Province, and Yungneung and Geolleung in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.

The festival introduces the tombs of kings and queens built during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897) and the Korean Empire (1897-1910) and explores their historical and cultural value.

This year's festival has expanded to three additional sites, with performances, tours and exhibitions taking place at 12 royal tomb sites.

At Yungneung and Geolleung, the tombs of King Jeongjo, the 22nd king of Joseon, and his father, Crown Prince Sado, a new musical will be staged.

"Peach Blossoms, Thinking of You Makes Me Sad" will be performed Oct. 17-18 and 24-25, portraying the tragic family history spanning three generations -- King Yeongjo, Crown Prince Sado and King Jeongjo -- against the backdrop of the royal tombs.

Choi Jae-rim will play Crown Prince Sado, while Song Yong-tae will portray King Yeongjo and Koo Jun-mo will play King Jeongjo.

Concerts featuring artists from a wide range of genres, from traditional Korean music to jazz and classical music, will be held at four sites, including Seolleung and Jeongneung in Seoul and Hongneung and Yureung in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.

At Sareung in Namyangju and Jangneung in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, visitors can watch "Bogo Jigo Bogo Jigo," an original pansori performance depicting the tragic story of King Danjong and Queen Jeongsun.

During the festival, several areas of the royal tombs that are normally difficult to access will also be opened to the public.

The burial areas of Seolleung and Jeongneung on Oct. 12, and Donggureung and Seosoreung on Oct. 19, will be specially opened to visitors as part of "Special Opening of the Burial Grounds: A Deeper Look at the Royal Tombs."

"Donggureung Night Tour -- Dream of the Tomb Owner," a nighttime program using light, sound, video and staged performances to tell stories of Joseon kings, will run from Oct. 13-25.

"Joseon Detective: Royal Tomb Historian," an event in which participants become royal historians who served as officials responsible for compiling historical records during the Joseon period, will also be held. Participants will explore royal tombs and piece together missing historical records.

▲ This poster for the annual Joseon Royal Tombs Festival is provided by the The Korea Heritage Service. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)

Other programs include forest tours and hands-on experiences such as gold-leaf craft. An exhibition recreating sounds inspired by the natural environment and ancestral rituals of the Joseon royal tombs will open on Sept. 30.

Advance reservations for major festival programs will open at 2 p.m. Monday through Ticketlink.

Foreign visitors can purchase tickets through Create Trip, a Korean travel platform.

For more information, visit the festival website at [www.jrtf.or.kr](http://www.jrtf.or.kr).

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]