Temple Visitors Greatly Increase After Admission Fee Waiver

31 Locations, 5.63 Million People... 33.6% Increase
552 Billion Won to Be Invested for Support Next Year

The number of visitors to temples nationwide has been confirmed to have increased following the exemption of admission fees for nationally designated cultural heritage sites. According to the Cultural Heritage Administration on the 27th, from May to September, when the government began subsidizing cultural heritage admission fees, the number of visitors to thirty-one temples was 5,638,675. This is a 33.6% increase compared to 4,221,438 visitors during the same period last year. The Cultural Heritage Administration explained, "This figure is based on data from temples that had recorded free admission visitors last year among the sixty-four sites targeted by the project."

The increase rates were recorded as 42.8% for Hwaeomsa Temple in Gurye, Jeollanam-do, which previously charged 4,000 won; 34.6% for Haeinsa Temple in Hapcheon, Gyeongsangnam-do, which charged 3,000 won; and 42.8% for Seonamsa Temple in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do. However, the exact number of visitors was not disclosed. The Cultural Heritage Administration plans to invest 55.2 billion won next year to continue subsidizing cultural heritage admission fees. An official stated, "About 60% of the temples eligible for support are located in areas experiencing population decline," adding, "This will generate positive cultural and economic effects and contribute to balanced regional development."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.