Seats and parking at 거제문화예술회관: how 1,209 splits, and the rotation that already ended

Is the main hall 1,091 seats or 1,209?

Both numbers are correct. The Grand Theatre (대극장) at 거제문화예술회관, the arts centre in Geoje on the south coast, holds 1,209 seats in total, of which 1,091 are fixed. The Geoje Culture and Arts Foundation states the breakdown as "1,091 fixed seats, 104 orchestra pit seats and 14 accessible seats, 1,209 in total". The arithmetic checks out: 1,091 + 104 + 14 = 1,209.

If a booking page only opens 1,091 seats, that performance is using the orchestra pit as stage rather than seating. Those 104 pit seats switch between the two roles depending on the production.

The 14 accessible seats can be confirmed a second way. The foundation's own seat-map descriptions say of both block A and block C that "row 18, 7 seats, are accessible seats" — and 7 + 7 = 14, matching the published figure.

KOPIS, Korea's national performing-arts data network, records the same per-hall counts for this venue: 1,209 for the Grand Theatre, 424 for the Small Theatre, 300 for the outdoor stage and 90 for 소담홀. All four agree exactly with the foundation's own figures, which is less common than you would hope.

Which block has the best view on floor 1?

The reference point is block B, in the centre. From row 1 to row 16 it runs 17 seats across (numbers 1–17), squarely facing the centre line of the stage. A cross aisle separates rows 6 and 7, so row 7 is the first row with open space in front of it.

Working back from the stage, floor 1 runs: block O (rows 1–4), the front section of blocks A/B/C (rows 1–6), then the rear section of the same blocks (rows 7–18). Block A is on the left, block C on the right.

Blocks A and C face the stage at an angle. The front section fans out from 8 seats in row 1 to 13 seats in row 6, so within either block the seat numbers nearest block B are the ones nearest centre. In block A that means the higher numbers; in block C, the lower ones.

The sound and lighting console (FOH) sits in the middle of rows 17 and 18. According to the foundation's seat map, block B row 17 only has seats 1–4 and 14–17, and row 18 only has seats 1–3 and 15–17. The middle of those rows simply is not there, so there is no point hunting for a centre seat in them.

Exit positions are worth knowing too. The foundation's evacuation plan puts floor 1 exits behind block A row 6 seat 1, behind block C row 6 seat 13, and beside the accessible seats at each end of row 18.

What about floor 2?

Here the reference point is block C, again the centre one. Floor 2 has five blocks, A through E, running rows 1–9, with an aisle between rows 5 and 6. In the front section each block seats 9 per row; in the rear section blocks A and E drop to 8 per row.

At 9 seats a row, the front of block C is the narrowest prime location in the building. For a show where you want to look down on ensemble choreography or lighting design, expect it to go quickly.

Blocks A and E sit at the far edges of floor 2 and meet the stage at the sharpest angle. If the price is the same, work through blocks B to D first.

How is the 424-seat Small Theatre laid out?

The Small Theatre (소극장) seats 424, a figure that includes 6 accessible seats. Three blocks, A, B and C, run rows 1–13 — a much simpler room, and much closer to the stage than the Grand Theatre.

Centre block B runs 11 seats a row from row 1 to row 12, with accessible seats in row 13. Blocks A and C fan out from 3 seats in row 1 to 15 seats in row 12.

Adding up the foundation's per-block counts gives 145 in block A, 132 in block B and 145 in block C, or 422; add the 2 accessible seats in block B row 13 and you reach the published 424.

The stage is a proscenium with a revolve, and a film projection system is installed. The main stage measures 219.653㎡.

How much parking is there, and is the odd-even scheme still running?

There are 196 spaces in total: 57 at the main building and 139 at the annex, per the foundation's facilities page, and 57 + 139 = 196. Sixteen are accessible bays (11 main, 5 annex), four are EV charging bays and five are oversize bays, all at the annex.

The licence-plate rotation was lifted on 1 July 2026. The foundation's notice board still carries a notice dated 7 April 2026 announcing a "5부제" rotation for the car park, and nothing has been posted since to withdraw it. But the scheme that notice rests on has already ended.

The document attached to that notice is a 3 April 2026 letter from Geoje City requesting cooperation with a national fuel-saving measure. It set the rotation running from 8 April 2026 and stated its end condition explicitly: "until the resource-security alert is lifted". Cars were barred on the weekday matching their final plate digit — Monday 1 and 6, Tuesday 2 and 7, Wednesday 3 and 8, Thursday 4 and 9, Friday 5 and 0 — with weekends and public holidays exempt.

That lifting came on 30 June 2026. With shipping through the Strait of Hormuz resuming, the resource-security alert dropped from "alert" to "caution", and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment lifted both the public-sector odd-even rule and the public car park rotation from midnight on 1 July.

So there is no need to check your plate before a weekday performance. Since the foundation's notice is still up, though, call 055-680-1000 if you want to be certain about how the car park is being run on the day.

Rotation aside, a sold-out Grand Theatre puts 1,209 people against 196 spaces — roughly one space for every six seats. Arriving an hour early is sensible.

The annex car park has a garden on its roof, and in it an outdoor stage built in 2010, with five tiers of wooden seating for around 300 people. On days when an outdoor event coincides, the annex fills up faster.

How does booking and cancellation work?

On the day of a performance you can only buy at the box office, and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays you can only buy online. For a weekend show, book on the website in advance.

Website booking runs 24 hours and allows up to 6 tickets per transaction, though this varies by production. Phone and in-person booking go through the box office on 055-680-1051, weekdays 09:00~18:00, closed 12:00~13:00 for lunch. Tickets are collected at the lobby box office from one hour before the performance.

Cancellation fees are calculated against the performance date.

There is one clause that rarely gets quoted. Up to 3 days before the performance, cancelling within 24 hours of booking is free. If you pick the wrong date, you have a day to undo it.

Concession discounts are all 50%: holders of a national merit card and one companion, holders of a bereaved-family card, disability welfare card holders (with one carer for severe disability), Geoje multi-child families, and new-resident coupons. The multi-child discount covers households living in Geoje with two or more children aged 19 or under, up to 2 tickets per household. All are non-transferable, and if you cannot show proof at the collection desk on the day you pay the difference.

The loyalty scheme gives 1 point per 1,000 won, each point worth 50 won. Members can spend points against tickets from 100 points, credited the day after the performance, and only on the centre's own productions.

If you are using a wheelchair space, the centre asks that you tell the collection desk whether a companion will be attending. A house manager is on duty in the lobby.

How do you get there by public transport?

The address is 경남 거제시 장승로 145 and the main number is 055-680-1000.

The most frequent buses are routes 10 and 11, every 5~10 minutes; get off at the 한일비치 stop. Both run between Gohyeon and Neungpo. Routes 20, 22 and 23-1 also pass, but only every 25 minutes to an hour.

Driving, the last stretch from either direction is the same: past 두모로타리, then left after 170m. From Tongyeong IC, take national route 14, pass the Geojedae-ro junction 1 and the Yangjeong tunnel, continue towards Jangseungpo at junction 21, then through the Ayang underpass. From Busan, cross the Geoga Bridge to Songjeong IC and turn left towards Jangseungpo at Geojedae-ro junction 21.

Intercity coaches to Seoul Nambu Terminal run from Jangseungpo terminal (1688-0078) and Gohyeon terminal (1688-5003).

If you arrive early, the lobby lounges on floors 1 and 2 of the Grand Theatre look out over Jangseungpo harbour, with tables and chairs where you may eat light refreshments you have brought with you. There is also a cafe, Cafe YOGIYE, inside the building.

On lockers: no left-luggage facility is listed anywhere in the foundation's facilities, booking or notices pages. If you are carrying something bulky, call 055-680-1000 before you travel.

In short

1. 1,209 seats = 1,091 fixed + 104 orchestra pit + 14 accessible. Block B on floor 1 and block C on floor 2 are the head-on reference points, and the middle of rows 17–18 on floor 1 is the console, not seating.
2. 196 parking spaces (57 main + 139 annex), and the licence-plate rotation ended on 1 July 2026 — the foundation's April notice simply has not been updated.
3. Same-day tickets are box office only; weekends and holidays are online only. Cancelling within 24 hours of booking is free up to 3 days before the show.

The seating, parking and booking details here were checked on 26 September 2026 against the Geoje Culture and Arts Foundation website — its venue-hire, facilities, booking, seat-map and notice pages — with per-hall seat counts cross-checked against KOPIS. The lifting of the plate rotation follows the Korean government policy briefing of 30 June 2026. Prices and policies change, so confirm on 055-680-1000 before you travel.

Hall-by-hall details are also on our 거제문화예술회관 venue page.