Seoul: The National Museum of Korea in Seoul has reported welcoming over 2.7 million visitors in the first half of this year, achieving its highest half-yearly visitor count since its relocation to the Yongsan site in 2005.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the museum recorded 2,708,892 visitors between January and June, marking a 64.2 percent increase from approximately 1.65 million visitors during the same period last year. This figure represents the largest number of visitors in 20 years since the museum established its permanent home in Yongsan.

Before settling in Yongsan, the National Museum of Korea was situated at various locations across Seoul, including Gyeongbok Palace. In addition to domestic visitors, the museum saw a record number of foreign guests, with 97,985 international visitors in the first half of the year. This surpasses the previous record of 94,951 set last year.

Following a significant decline in visitor numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum has experienced a recovery in foreign visitor arrivals since 2023. Museum officials attribute the increase in visitors to the global appeal of Korean Wave content, which extends into traditional culture. "The museum is drawing attention as the center hub of Korean culture amid the steady increase in foreign visitors," one official commented, requesting anonymity.