Gov't weighs raising admission fees to palaces, royal tombs for 1st time in 20 years
The government is weighing an increase in admission fees at major palaces and royal tombs next year, officials said Friday, as officials and experts argue current prices are low by global standards and point to shifting visitor patterns. If increased, it would mark the first change in two decades, according to the officials. Under current rates, adult admission to both Gyeongbok Palace and…
The South Korean government is considering raising admission fees at major palaces and royal tombs for the first time in two decades, officials announced on Friday. Current rates are perceived by some as being low compared to global standards, and experts argue that visitor patterns have changed. If implemented, the fee increase would update prices since 2001.
Presently, adult admission costs 3,000 won (approximately US$2.20) to visit Gyeongbok and Changdeok palaces, and 1,000 won (about US$0.73) to explore UNESCO-listed Jongmyo Shrine, Changgyeong and Deoksu palaces. Joseon-era royal tombs, monuments from the 14th to the 20th centuries, charge between 500 won and 2,000 won for adult visitors.
Kim Jae-kyu, director of the private National Heritage Planning and Evaluation Institute, highlighted during a recent public forum that South Korean fees are considerably inexpensive by international standards. According to Kim, Paris' Versailles is roughly equivalent to nine Big Mac sandwiches, while Japan's Nijo Castle costs about 1.2 Big Macs.
Conversely, visiting Gyeongbok and Changdeok palaces amounts to half a Big Mac. Kim also noted shifting visitor trends as a factor in the potential fee adjustment.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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