Korea's royal heritage sites reached an unprecedented milestone in 2025, attracting a record-breaking 17.8 million visitors across all major palaces, tombs, and the Jongmyo Shrine. This figure represents a remarkable 12.8 percent increase from the previous year's 15.78 million, marking the first time combined attendance has surpassed the 17 million threshold. The Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the Korea Heritage Service announced these figures, highlighting the sustained growth in public interest toward traditional Korean culture. The four main palaces in Seoul—Gyeongbok, Changdeok, Changgyeong, and Deoksu—along with Jongmyo Shrine and the royal tombs, have collectively experienced four consecutive years of attendance exceeding ten million visitors.
Gyeongbok Palace, the largest and most historically significant of Seoul's royal complexes, emerged as the primary destination with 6.89 million visitors, accounting for nearly forty percent of all admissions. Changgyeong Palace followed with 3.56 million visitors, while Deoksu Palace and Changdeok Palace attracted 2.22 million and 1.60 million respectively. Jongmyo Shrine, which houses the ancestral tablets of the Joseon Dynasty's royal family, also contributed significantly to these numbers. The distribution of visitors across these sites reflects both their historical prominence and varying accessibility, with Gyeongbok's central location and grand scale making it the undeniable centerpiece of Korea's palace tourism.
Foreign visitor numbers demonstrated particularly dramatic growth, reaching 4.27 million in 2025—a striking 34.4 percent increase from the previous year. International tourists now represent nearly a quarter of total visitors, signaling Korea's growing appeal as a cultural destination on the global stage. At Gyeongbok Palace, foreigners comprised an impressive 40.4 percent of all visitors, while Jongmyo Shrine attracted an estimated 16.8 percent international guests. This influx reflects the expanding reach of Korean cultural diplomacy, the global popularity of Korean historical dramas, and increased marketing efforts by tourism authorities targeting overseas travelers seeking authentic cultural experiences.
The record-breaking attendance follows a sharp decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, when visitor numbers plummeted to just 6.7 million in 2021 amid travel restrictions and health concerns. The subsequent recovery has been both rapid and robust, with annual figures climbing from 14.37 million in 2023 to 15.78 million in 2024 before reaching the current historic high. This four-year streak of growth above ten million visitors demonstrates not only successful pandemic recovery but also an expanding domestic and international appetite for Korea's royal heritage. The consistency of this upward trend suggests fundamental shifts in how both Koreans and foreigners engage with traditional culture.
The unprecedented visitor numbers underscore the enduring relevance of Korea's Joseon Dynasty legacy in contemporary society. These sites serve as tangible connections to Korea's architectural, philosophical, and ceremonial traditions, offering immersive experiences that cannot be replicated in museums. The Royal Palaces and Tombs Center has responded to growing attendance by enhancing preservation efforts, expanding multilingual guided tours, and implementing timed entry systems to protect delicate structures while accommodating increased demand. Balancing accessibility with conservation remains paramount as these five-hundred-year-old structures face unprecedented foot traffic.
Looking ahead, heritage officials anticipate continued growth, driven by Korea's increasing cultural influence globally and expanding tourism infrastructure. Plans for digital interpretation tools, virtual reality experiences, and expanded evening hours aim to diversify visitor experiences while managing capacity. The record attendance provides both opportunities and challenges, generating revenue for restoration projects while testing the limits of sustainable tourism at these UNESCO-recognized sites. As Korea's royal palaces and tombs enter this new era of unprecedented popularity, maintaining their integrity for future generations remains the central priority for preservation authorities.
