- The number of visitors to the Blue House has been growing since March, with a significant increase in international visitors

 - Daily on-site ticket limit to be raised from the current 1,000 to 2,000

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister PARK Bo Gyoon, MCST) announced that there has been a clear increase in the number of visitors to Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House) since March, following a seasonal dip during the winter months. Notably, the number of international visitors has recently spiked, and their proportion among overall visitors has increased significantly.

Visitor numbers at the Blue House, which were at 105,300 (round down to the hundreds) in January, rose to 154,000 in March and steadily increased to 183,700 as of April 24. Although the total number of international visitors to the Blue House from its opening until April 24, 2023, sits at around 56,500 (1.7% of the total 3.3 million visitors), this figure has increased significantly to 4.4% in March (6,790 out of 154,000) and approximately 4.8% in April (8,759 out of 183,700).

Currently, international visitors, individuals with disabilities, and those aged 65 or older can enter the Blue House without prior reservations, subject to a daily limit of 1,000 on-site tickets. However, the 1,000-ticket cap has become insufficient with the influx of international visitors, particularly on weekends.  Moreover, during the “Blue House as a K-Tourist Landmark: I am the Blue House Tour Guide” ceremony held on April 19 (Wed), Minister PARK announced a plan to add “Ten Tourist Routes around the Blue House” to global tourists’ bucket lists, which suggests a further increase in international visitors.

In response to the growing interest from international tourists, the MCST plans to raise the daily on-site ticket cap from 1,000 to 2,000 and adapt flexibly to changes in demand moving forward.