An Average of 100,000 Visitors Per Day...
Foreign Visitors Numbered 177,261
Only 61,000 More Than Last Year's Four-Day Lunar New Year Holiday
During the recent Lunar New Year holiday period, the four major palaces (Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung), Joseon Royal Tombs, and Jongmyo Shrine attracted a total of 600,000 visitors. According to the Cultural Heritage Administration on the 11th, the number of visitors recorded over six days from the 25th to the 30th of last month was 595,976. An average of about 99,000 people visited daily. Among them, 418,715 were domestic visitors and 177,261 were foreigners.
On the 27th, when heavy snow fell across all of Seoul, snow accumulated on Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Blue House, and Bukaksan Mountain as seen from the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun
The most visited site was confirmed to be Gyeongbokgung Palace. Combining both domestic and foreign visitors, it attracted 307,538 people, accounting for 51.6% of the total visitors. Deoksugung (69,019), Changdeokgung (68,932), and Changgyeonggung (64,953) followed.
During the same period, 61,829 people visited the Joseon Royal Tombs including Seoul’s Taereung and Gangneung, Seolleung and Jeongneung, and Donggureung in Guri, Gyeonggi Province, as well as the King Sejong Historic Site in Yeoju. Jongmyo Shrine, which usually operates by reservation, was visited by 23,705 people over the six days.
Compared to last year’s four-day Lunar New Year holiday (February 9th to 12th), when 534,0347 visitors came to the four major palaces, Joseon Royal Tombs, and Jongmyo Shrine, this year saw an increase of only about 61,000 visitors. This is attributed to the extended holiday due to the temporary holiday declared on the 27th of last month, which led many people to travel domestically and abroad, as well as the snowfall and continued cold wave in various areas.
On the 27th, when heavy snow fell across Seoul, office workers captured the scenery on their phones as Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukaksan Mountain in Jongno-gu, Seoul, were covered in white snow. Photo by Jo Yong-jun
The Cultural Heritage Administration plans to present various cultural events at the palaces this year. Popular programs such as the Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour and Gyeongbokgung Starlight Night Tour will expand the reservation quota through lotteries to up to 80%. An annual 120 sessions of guided tours explaining the palaces for visually impaired visitors will be operated, and a new event called 'Donggwol Jangwonseo' for seniors will be introduced.
The Jongmyo Jeongjeon (Main Hall), a UNESCO World Heritage site, will also reopen to visitors. It is the building enshrining the spirit tablets of the kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty. After repairs are completed by April, ceremonial events to return the spirit tablets moved to Changdeokgung will be held.
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