Survey Shows Average Willingness to Pay 8,458 Won for Joseon Royal Tombs
Rise in Foreign Visitors Fuels Debate on Admission Fee Increase
On the 29th, when visa-free entry for group Chinese tourists was implemented, Gyeongbokgung Palace in Jongno-gu, Seoul, was crowded with foreign tourists including Chinese tourists. 2025.9.29 Photo by Kang Jinhyung
A recent survey found that people are willing to pay an average of 9,730 won to tour the major palaces. This is roughly three times the current admission fee for Gyeongbokgung Palace, which is 3,000 won for adults.
According to the "Policy Study on Adjusting Admission Fees for Palace and Royal Tomb Services," published on the 17th by the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the National Heritage Administration and the Cultural Administration Research Institute of CST, 2,341 visitors to the four major palaces and Jongmyo Shrine responded that they would be willing to pay an average of 9,730 won. For the Joseon Royal Tombs, the average was 8,458 won.
A separate survey of 300 people who had not visited the palaces or Jongmyo Shrine in the past year showed similar results. They responded that they would be willing to pay an average of 9,211 won for the palaces and Jongmyo Shrine, and 8,548 won for the royal tombs.
The survey was conducted from the 6th to the 21st of last month. The most common reason for visiting was "to view cultural heritage" (1,123 respondents), followed by "to take a walk" (585), "cultural value" (319), and "experience" (221). Most visitors stayed for one to two hours.
With the recent surge in foreign visitors, there is growing momentum for discussions on raising admission fees. As of November this year, approximately 16.96 million people visited the four major palaces, Jongmyo Shrine, and the Joseon Royal Tombs. Among them, 4.04 million were foreigners-a significant increase compared to 2.01 million in 2023 and 3.17 million in 2024. This is the highest number ever recorded.
Admission fees for palaces and royal tombs have remained unchanged since 2005. On the 16th, President Lee Jaemyung stated during a National Heritage Administration work report, "There is a need to make adjustments through a process of persuasion." He added, "Currently, the entire population pays taxes to cover maintenance costs, while only a small number of visitors enjoy the benefits. At the very least, those who use the facilities should bear some of the costs to ensure fairness."
In response, Heo Min, Commissioner of the National Heritage Administration, said, "This is an issue that requires public consensus," adding, "We will make a decision together with the public based on the data and the contents of public hearings held so far."
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