Seoul, South Korea – The number of visitors to South Korea's historic palaces and royal tombs has reached a record high, according to data released by the Cultural Heritage Administration on Monday.
A total of 14.89 million people visited the nation's palaces and tombs in 2024, marking a 520,000 increase from the previous year. Foreign visitors accounted for approximately 20% of the total, with 2.99 million tourists exploring these historical sites. This represents a 49% surge compared to the same period in 2023.
The Cultural Heritage Administration attributed the significant increase to the expanded range of cultural programs offered at these sites. The agency invested 14% of its total budget into developing and operating 16 cultural programs, including the Gungjung Cultural Festival, Joseon Royal Tombs Festival, and nighttime tours of Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces.
These programs attracted 6.89 million visitors, accounting for 46% of the overall visitor count. Moreover, the cultural programs generated an estimated economic impact of 6.495 trillion won, including 4.721 trillion won in production-induced effects and 1.774 trillion won in value-added effects. The programs also created 3,573 jobs.
The Gungjung Cultural Festival, held twice a year in spring and autumn, proved to be the most popular program, drawing a total of 680,000 visitors. The festival's success was attributed to expanded global marketing efforts, including the sale of tickets through international platforms and the development of specialized programs for foreign tourists.
To accommodate the growing demand, the agency introduced a lottery system for popular nighttime tours and expanded accessibility for seniors and people with disabilities. Additionally, the agency launched new programs such as the "Changdeokgung Yakdabang" (Changdeokgung Traditional Pharmacy) and "Hannachui Sishikgam" (Midday Royal Banquet Experience), which were particularly well-received by underprivileged groups.
The Cultural Heritage Administration expressed its commitment to continuing to develop innovative cultural programs to enhance the public's enjoyment of Korea's rich cultural heritage.
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