▲ A celebratory performance blending K-culture and royal court culture takes place during the opening ceremony of the Royal Culture Festival at Heungnyemun Square of Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul on April 24, 2026. (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, May 7 (Yonhap) -- More than 725,000 people visited royal palaces and the Jongmyo shrine in Seoul during this year’s spring Royal Culture Festival, marking the highest attendance since the event was launched, organizers said Thursday.

 

According to the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) and the Korea Heritage Agency (KH), a total of 725,281 people participated in the festival held from April 25 to May 3.

 

The figure includes visitors to the five major palaces — Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeok Palace, Deoksu Palace, Changgyeong Palace and Gyeonghui Palace — as well as Jongmyo Shrine, along with attendees of major programs, including the opening ceremony.

 

▲ A celebratory performance blending K-culture and royal court culture takes place during the opening ceremony of the Royal Culture Festival at Heungnyemun Square of Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul on April 24, 2026. (Yonhap)

 

The Korea Heritage Agency said the total was about 26,000 higher than last year’s spring festival attendance of 698,558, making it the largest turnout in the history of the spring event.

 

Foreign participation also increased this year.

 

The agency said 183,427 foreign visitors toured the four major palaces excluding Gyeonghui Palace and Jongmyo Shrine during the festival period, up about 33 percent from the previous spring festival.

 

An agency official said organizers expanded opportunities for foreign visitors this year by opening seats for the opening ceremony — previously reserved mainly for Korean attendees — and offering dedicated tickets for overseas guests.

 

Programs presented in English, including "Crown Prince Hyomyeong and the Dance of the Moon" at Changdeok Palace and the nighttime performance of "Jongmyo Jeryeak" at Jongmyo Shrine, were sold out.

 

▲ A foreign visitor watches a theatrical performance featuring a queen and court lady during the "Queen’s Taste" program at Tongmyeongjeon Hall of Changgyeong Palace during the 2026 spring Royal Culture Festival in Seoul on April 29, 2026. (Yonhap)

 

The Royal Culture Festival will return in autumn from Oct. 7-11 with 17 programs themed around Joseon-era spatial aesthetics and the royal library institution Gyujanggak Academy.

 

The festival is an annual cultural event featuring exhibitions, hands-on activities and performances at Korea’s royal palaces.

 

Last year, about 1.37 million people attended the spring and autumn editions combined. Organizers aim to attract 1.65 million visitors this year by expanding programs for foreign tourists.

 

 

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]