[2020 National Audit] Visitor Numbers at Major Seoul Tourist Attractions Plummet 67% in First Half of the Year

Assemblyman Yang Gi-dae Reports 48% Decrease in 19 Tourist Sites in Q1... 82% Reduction in Q2

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the number of visitors to 19 major tourist attractions in Seoul during the first half of this year dropped by 67% compared to the same period last year, and by 82% in the second quarter alone.

According to data titled 'Status of Visitors to Major Tourist Attractions in Seoul After the COVID-19 Outbreak,' submitted by Seoul City to Yang Ki-dae, a member of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, the total number of visitors to 19 tourist sites in the city, where visitor counts were available from January to June this year, was 4.42 million, a significant 67% decrease from 13.36 million during the same period last year.

The number of visitors in the first quarter was 3.11 million, down 47.5% from 5.92 million in the same period last year, but as COVID-19 spread rapidly, the second quarter saw a sharp decline to 1.31 million visitors, an 82.3% drop compared to 7.44 million in the same period last year.

By major tourist sites, Lotte World had 953,400 visitors in the first half of the year, a 65.1% decrease from 2,729,800 in the same period last year, and Lotte World Aquarium also saw a 65.8% drop from 639,200 visitors last year to 218,900 this year.

The palaces, which are popular among both domestic and foreign tourists, were not spared from the impact of COVID-19. Gyeongbokgung Palace's visitors decreased by 75.2%, from 2,524,300 in the first half of last year to 627,100 this year; Deoksugung Palace dropped 59.5% (from 717,800 to 209,000); Changdeokgung Palace fell 68.0% (from 519,700 to 98,300); and Changgyeonggung Palace declined 62.2% (from 274,400 to 79,600).

In contrast, tourist visits to royal tombs, which are usually less frequented by tourists, either increased or showed only single-digit decreases, presenting a contrasting trend.

Visitors to Heolleung and Illeung in Naegok-dong, Seocho-gu, increased by 20.0%, from just 21,000 in the first half of last year to 25,200 this year. Taereung and Gangneung in Gongneung-dong, Nowon-gu, saw a 5.0% increase from 41,800 last year to 43,800 this year. Additionally, Seolleung and Jeongneung in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, had 172,100 visitors in the first half of this year, with the decrease compared to 185,000 in the same period last year limited to a single digit (7.0%).

Assemblyman Yang Ki-dae interpreted this as "citizens avoiding crowded indoor tourist spots due to COVID-19, while turning to royal tombs, which they usually do not visit, to relieve the frustration caused by the pandemic."

Yang also argued, "As many citizens, including confirmed COVID-19 patients, those in self-quarantine, their families, and countless others, suffer from psychological aftereffects known as 'corona blue' (depression), it is necessary to establish a psychological defense system, such as setting up a 'National Mind Healing Center' for rest and healing."