Religious Building · Seoul, South Korea
Jongmyo Shrine
Jongmyo (Korean: 종묘) is a Confucian royal ancestral shrine in the Jongno District of Seoul, South Korea.
Photo: Bgag via Wikimedia Commons, CC0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Seoul, South Korea |
|---|---|
| Type | Religious Building |
| Area | Area: 0.194 km² |
| Coordinates | 37.5747° N, 126.9936° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Jongmyo Shrine is known for
Jongmyo (Korean: 종묘) is a Confucian royal ancestral shrine in the Jongno District of Seoul, South Korea.
About Jongmyo Shrine
Jongmyo (Korean: 종묘) is a Confucian royal ancestral shrine in the Jongno District of Seoul, South Korea. It was originally built during the Joseon period (1392–1897) for memorial services for deceased kings and queens. According to UNESCO, the shrine is the oldest royal Confucian shrine preserved and the ritual ceremonies continue a tradition established in the 14th century.
History
When it was built in 1394 at the order of King Taejo, the Jongmyo Shrine was thought to be one of the longest buildings in Asia, if not the longest. The main hall, known as Jeongjeon (정전; 正殿), had seven niches or myoshil (묘실; 廟室; lit. 'Temple Room'), each reserved for the spirit tablets of a king and his queens.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Jongmyo Shrine website — the official site has the current visiting information.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Seoul |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Gimpo International Airport (GMP) |
| Distance from the airport | 10.5 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Seoul Gimpo International Airport (GMP) · Seoul, South Korea · 11.2 miles away
- Incheon International Airport (ICN) · Seoul, South Korea · 30.6 miles away
- Cheongju International Airport (CJJ) · Cheongju, South Korea · 65.6 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in South Korea
More religious buildings
Frequently asked questions
What is Jongmyo Shrine?
Jongmyo (Korean: 종묘) is a Confucian royal ancestral shrine in the Jongno District of Seoul, South Korea.
Where is Jongmyo Shrine located?
Jongmyo Shrine is in Seoul, South Korea. Its coordinates are 37.5747° N, 126.9936° E.
How do I get to Jongmyo Shrine?
The nearest town is Seoul, and the nearest airport is Gimpo International Airport (GMP), about 10.5 miles away (straight line).
What is the history of Jongmyo Shrine?
When it was built in 1394 at the order of King Taejo, the Jongmyo Shrine was thought to be one of the longest buildings in Asia, if not the longest. The main hall, known as Jeongjeon (정전; 正殿), had seven niches or myoshil (묘실; 廟室; lit.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jongmyo — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q490497 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://jm.cha.go.kr — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.