As South Korea moves to raise admission fees at Gyeongbokgung Palace and other royal palaces and tombs, a consensus is forming that the final figure should be higher than the current level. Because Gyeongbokgung is one of the country's signature cultural heritage sites, however, bringing fees closer to market levels is unlikely to be straightforward.
Choi Mi-jung, head of the Korea Performance Research Institute, said at a public forum on palace and royal tomb admission fees held on the 8th by the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the Korea Heritage Service that survey respondents put the average palace admission fee they would accept at 7,940 won among experts and 9,203 won among members of the general public. Both figures are roughly triple the current 3,000-won fee at Gyeongbokgung. Notably, the higher figure came from ordinary citizens, who would actually have to pay it, rather than from experts offering a theoretical estimate.
According to Choi, experts surveyed put the appropriate range for Gyeongbokgung at between 4,720 won and 11,160 won. Ninety percent of respondents agreed that a fee increase is necessary. The main reasons cited were that a low price fails to recognize the value of cultural heritage; that the fee is very low compared with overseas admission charges; that visitors tend to view heritage as more valuable when admission is expensive and less valuable when it is cheap; that revenue is needed to fund heritage preservation and management; that inflation and living standards are not reflected in the current price; and that the fee does not align with the principle that beneficiaries should bear the cost.
The remaining respondents, who saw no need for an increase, cited the need to avoid burdensome admission charges and the symbolic meaning of a fee as a token of respect and shared responsibility.
Among 6,635 members of the general public surveyed, the suggested range for Gyeongbokgung was 7,521 won to 10,349 won. Fifty percent said an increase was necessary, citing a price too low relative to the value of the heritage site, a price far below admission fees at overseas heritage sites, and insufficient funding for maintaining palaces, tombs and gardens. Nineteen percent said no increase was needed, arguing that the current fee is sufficient, that they cannot afford to pay more than they do now, and that the grounds for an increase are inadequate. The remaining 31 percent were neutral.
Contrary to expectations that the forum would turn into a free-for-all, discussion centered on how much and how quickly to raise fees, taking an increase as a given. Participants viewed the current moment as a rare opportunity to bring fees closer to realistic levels. Kim Jae-kyu, head of the Korea Heritage Planning and Evaluation Institute, another presenter, compared admission fees using the price of McDonald's Big Mac, noting that at 5,700 won for the sandwich alone, admission to Gyeongbokgung amounts to just half a Big Mac.
By comparison, he said, admission to Nijo Castle in Kyoto, Japan, is equivalent to 1.2 Big Macs, or 6,860 won; the Forbidden City in China, 2.1 Big Macs, or 11,780 won; and the Palace of Versailles in France, 9.2 Big Macs, or 52,150 won.
Na Myung-ha, who served as the first head of the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center from 2019 to 2021, said the government's opposition had cost two opportunities to raise fees since 2005. "The question is whether the public can accept a price several times the current level, so I believe a phased approach is preferable," Na said.
Of the 45 members of a citizens' panel who took part, all but one of those who spoke agreed that a fee increase is unavoidable. Many also called for improvements to the visitor experience alongside any increase.
Cho Kyu-hyung, head of the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, said in closing remarks that some people say raising fees is fine but then complain that the price is too high when they actually have to pay at the gate. "This is not a sprint," Cho said. "This is the moment for serious reflection on the current fee structure, for the sake of sustainable preservation and use."
Admission fees for royal palaces and tombs were last raised in 2005 and have remained unchanged for 21 years. Admission to Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung costs 3,000 won per adult, while Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung cost 1,000 won. Fees at the Joseon royal tombs range from 500 won to 2,000 won for adults. Gyeonghuigung, managed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, is free.
The Korea Heritage Service plans to review the various views raised and announce a new fee structure for palaces and tombs in November. The revised fees are expected to take effect in January. The timetable could shift, however, depending on how authorities proceed with plans to reintroduce admission charges at the National Museum of Korea, which is currently free.
