_:Officials are contemplating raising admission fees for major palaces and royal tombs next year, marking the first potential change in two decades. This consideration comes as experts argue that current prices are low compared to global standards, and as visitor patterns evolve.
According to Yonhap News Agency, current fees for adults at Gyeongbok Palace and Changdeok Palace are 3,000 won (US$2.20), while Jongmyo Shrine, Changgyeong Palace, and Deoksu Palace charge 1,000 won. Entry to Joseon-era royal tombs costs between 500 won and 2,000 won. Kim Jae-kyu, from the National Heritage Planning and Evaluation Institute, highlighted at a public forum that these fees are notably lower than international counterparts like France’s Versailles or Japan’s Nijo Castle.
Kim noted that in 2025, approximately 17.81 million people visited South Korea’s major palaces, Jongmyo, and the royal tombs, with around 69 percent benefiting from free admission programs. Despite a 12.9 percent rise in visitor numbers compared to 2024, paid admissions dropped by 5.2 percent, resulting in a 4.1 percent decline in revenue.
At the forum, survey results suggested average appropriate fees of 9,203 won for palaces and 7,196 won for royal tombs and Jongmyo, significantly higher than the current rates. Some participants advocated for gradual fee increases to avoid a sudden hike.
Cho Kyu-hyung, head of the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, expressed the need for a serious reevaluation of the fee structure to maintain sustainable preservation and utilization of national heritage. Further reviews incorporating various perspectives and opinions are anticipated.