Jeonbuk National University Samsung Cultural Center, Yeongsan Hall: seat numbers, free parking, entrance and tickets (checked November 2026)

The Samsung Cultural Center (전북대 삼성문화회관) is Jeonbuk National University's performing-arts building, on the edge of its Jeonju campus along Gwonsamdeuk-ro. It houses the main auditorium, Yeongsan Hall (영산홀), the small Geonji Art Hall (건지아트홀) and an exhibition gallery. For this guide we counted the official Yeongsan Hall seat-chart spreadsheet cell by cell and checked it against the center's parking, notice, ticketing and history pages, the university's own parking-fee notice, and the hall's registration on KOPIS, Korea's national performing-arts database. All figures were checked in November 2026.

How many seats does Yeongsan Hall have, and what do "Ga-yeol" and "Da-yeol" mean?

Yeongsan Hall has 1,469 seats according to its official seat chart: 933 on the ground floor (907 standard plus 26 wheelchair spaces) and 536 in the balcony (388 on sale plus 148 held back). The chart's labels Ga-yeol, Na-yeol, Da-yeol and so on name sections, not rows, so a ticket reading "Da-yeol 63" means seat 63 in section Da.

The chart has no row numbers. Each section numbers its seats continuously from the left of the front row, so higher numbers sit further back. That means a seat number alone tells you roughly how far from the stage you are.

KOPIS lists the main auditorium at 1,493 seats (16 accessible), 24 more than the venue's own chart. Neither source explains the gap, so this guide follows the chart the venue publishes.

Counting the spreadsheet cell by cell, the ground floor has exactly 907 standard and 26 wheelchair cells, matching its 933 heading, and the balcony has exactly 388 seats on sale. The held-back balcony seats do not reconcile: the chart shades 160 cells grey, 12 more than its own heading of 148. So the balcony actually holds 548 seat cells, and a show that releases the held-back seats may sell slightly more than 536 there.

How can I tell which row my Yeongsan Hall ground-floor seat is in?

The ground floor has a cross aisle behind the seventh row, so knowing whether your number falls before or after it tells you most of what you need. In the three central sections (Na, Da, Ra), seats 1–57 are the seven rows in front of the aisle and 58 onwards are behind it. In the two outer sections (Ga, Ma), seats 1–52 are in front.

Na, Da and Ra share the same numbering: 58–66 is row 8, 67–75 is row 9 and 96–105 is row 12. A note on the chart says the ground-floor wheelchair spaces are at the very back of the hall, where you watch from your own wheelchair.

Which Yeongsan Hall seats have the best view for a first visit?

For a first visit, aim for rows 8–12 just behind the aisle in sections Na, Da or Ra (seats 58–105). The aisle gives you space in front and you stay close to the centre line. To see faces up close at a concert, take rows 1–7 in front of the aisle, ideally the front of section Da. An orchestra pit sits between the stage and the first row.

The outer sections Ga and Ma sit on the edge of the fan-shaped seating, so you see the stage at an angle. In the official photo taken from a side section the stage leans to one side and the far end is at a steep angle. The balcony also overhangs the back of the ground floor, so the last few rows can feel closed in overhead.

Where are Yeongsan Hall's held-back balcony seats, and why do they go on sale last?

The held-back seats are the balcony boxes on both sides of the stage (sections Ba and Cha, seats 1–24), the front 'Teuk' row of the balcony, and the row directly behind it. The chart carries a note telling promoters these seats have obstructed views and should only be opened once everything else has sold. So a front-balcony seat released late is not necessarily a hidden gem.

The side boxes step down along the walls, so you watch the stage almost side-on. In the balcony, the safer choice is central section A from the first row behind the held-back seats (seat 13 onwards), which looks down over the whole stage floor and the lighting.

Which Yeongsan Hall seats suit which kind of show?

Classical recitals suit the centre section just behind the aisle, pop concerts the front of the three central sections, and musicals or dance the central balcony or the ground floor behind the aisle. This is based on the seat chart and the official photos.

The center's history page records a Steinway concert grand arriving on 15 January 2021, and stage machinery, sound and lighting refurbished along with the exterior on 31 March 2024. The seats were replaced in March 2013.

Is parking free at the Samsung Cultural Center?

Yes, for 5 hours if you are attending a performance or exhibition. Under the center's notice of 10 July 2025, you write your plate number on the parking log at the lobby information desk; beyond 5 hours you pay the normal campus rate for the extra time.

There are two ways in by car. The official parking guide says the gate beside the building is tight and asks visitors to use the campus car parks.

The campus gates with pay stations are the main gate (towards Jeonbuk Bank), the east gate (towards the university hospital), the north gate (towards the zoo), the Deokjin Square gate and the hospital funeral-hall gate, all open 24 hours. Leaving through the same gate within 15 minutes of entering is free. If you lose your ticket, you are charged from 06:00 that day.

The overtime rate differs between two official pages. The center's directions page still says 1,000 won for the first 30 minutes and 200 won per 10 minutes after that. The university's own notice, however, raised the general rate from 1 September 2025 to 1,000 won for the first 30 minutes, then 300 won per 10 minutes, and 100 won per 10 minutes at weekends. The more recent notice is most likely the current rate, so check the pay-station signs if you plan a long stay.

How do I get to the Samsung Cultural Center by car or bus?

Set your navigation to "권삼득로 290" or "전북대 삼성문화회관". KOPIS lists the venue at 290 Gwonsamdeuk-ro, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju. The "백제대로 567" address at the foot of the official website is the university's main address, which can lead you to the campus rather than the hall.

The Jeonbuk Veterans' Hall stands across the road, which is why the parking guide calls the Gwonsamdeuk-ro gate the "Veterans' Hall gate". By bus, there is a "Samsung Cultural Center" (삼성문화회관) stop on campus; when the source post was written, Kakao Map showed route 101 from the 전북대종점 terminus calling there. Routes change, so check a map app before you set off.

Where do I buy tickets for Yeongsan Hall?

It depends on the show. The center's ticketing page lists four channels: phone booking with the promoter, each show's own ticket sites, the box office on the day, and Ticketlink online for the shows it carries. The "예매하기" button on each show in the official listing goes straight to that show's seller.

Checking the November and December 2026 Yeongsan Hall shows on KOPIS, most are sold through several sites at once.

Seat grades (R, S, A and so on) are set by each promoter. Before paying, match the seat map on the booking screen against the number ranges above.

Are Yeongsan Hall and Geonji Art Hall the same venue?

No. Yeongsan Hall is the main auditorium; Geonji Art Hall is the small hall in the same building. Geonji Art Hall reopened on 22 May 2026 after a remodel, so check the hall name on your ticket.

Its capacity differs between sources too. The official Geonji Art Hall page describes "a 184-seat small theatre" with single-level raked seating, while KOPIS lists 224 seats. Both give the same stage size (9.3 m wide, 6.2 m deep, 5 m high). The official pages do not give a post-remodel seat count.

In short

1. Yeongsan Hall has 1,469 seats on the official chart (933 ground, 536 balcony) against 1,493 on KOPIS. The "yeol" labels are sections.
2. First-timers should aim for ground-floor Na, Da or Ra, seats 58–105. The balcony side boxes and its front two rows are held back for obstructed views.
3. Audience parking is free for 5 hours once you log your plate at the lobby desk. Since September 2025 the overtime rate is 300 won per 10 minutes.

Checked in November 2026 against the JBNU Samsung Cultural Center website's Yeongsan Hall page and seat chart, directions and parking, notices (July 2025 parking notice), ticketing guide, history and Geonji Art Hall page, Jeonbuk National University's parking-fee notice, and the venue's KOPIS facility and performance records. Rates and procedures change, so call the center on 063-270-2089 before you go.

More venue guides in the region: Sori Arts Center of Jeollabuk-do seat views, Iksan Arts Center seat views and parking, Gwangju Arts Center seat views and parking