▲ This photo, provided by Big Hit Music on Sept. 29, 2020, shows BTS posing for a photo in front of Geunjeongjeon Hall of Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, South Korea, where the band filmed a performance for the "BTS Week" special on NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" in the United States. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- The number of foreign visitors to Seoul's major palaces and the Jongmyo Shrine saw a significant increase in the first half of this year. 

 

According to the National Heritage Administration's Royal Palaces and Tombs Office, from January to June, a total of 6,557,307 people visited Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, and Jongmyo. This represents a 22.7% increase compared to the 5,345,218 visitors in the same period last year.

 

Among the palaces, Gyeongbokgung had the highest number of visitors with 3,211,876, followed by Deoksugung (1,724,529), Changdeokgung (881,646), and Changgyeonggung (538,131). Jongmyo Shrine, which typically requires reservations, was visited by 201,125 people over the past six months.

 

▲ Foreign tourists dressed in the traditional Korean costume hanbok tour Gyeongbok Palace in downtown Seoul on March 29, 2023. (Yonhap)

 

The number of foreign visitors has notably increased. From January to June, 1,568,144 foreign visitors visited the four palaces and Jongmyo, which is 2.2 times the number of foreign visitors in the first half of 2023 (703,318). 

 

The number of foreign visitors in January was 121,078, but it more than doubled in February, which included the Lunar New Year holiday, to 265,549. In April and May, the number of foreign visitors exceeded 300,000 for two consecutive months, with 313,920 and 351,255 visitors respectively.

 

Gyeongbokgung Palace saw a significant increase in foreign visitors, recording monthly numbers of 84,996, 213,844, 175,843, 186,518, 232,282, and 151,225, totaling 1,044,708 foreign visitors in the first half of the year. This is 3.1 times the 338,455 foreign visitors recorded in the same period last year.

 

▲ An undated file photo of Geunjeongjeon Hall of Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul. (Yonhap)

 

The Royal Palaces and Tombs Office explained, "In February this year, the number of foreign visitors to Gyeongbokgung increased significantly from 22,277 last year to 213,844 this year." This trend is attributed to the recent increase in foreign tourists visiting Korea. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, the cumulative number of foreign visitors to Korea from January to May this year was approximately 6.28 million, an 81.1% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

 

Among major cultural facilities, the National Museum of Korea recorded 94,951 foreign visitors in the first half of this year, setting a new record. The Royal Palaces and Tombs Office plans to continuously expand cultural events, experience, and educational programs held at the four palaces and Jongmyo. The 'Royal Culture Festival,' which marks its 10th anniversary this year, will be held again on October 9th, following the spring event.

 

▲ A photo of Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul, taken in April 29, 2024, (Yonhap)

 

 

 

 

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