Nov 12, 2026
Seoul’s museums, historic sites and cultural venues are drawing more visitors after dark, with attendance more than doubling since the city expanded evening opening hours for many popular spots in September. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday that six major cultural attractions recorded approximately 1.198 million visitors from Sept. 15 to Oct. 31, up 110 percent from 569,000 from Aug. 1 to Sept. 14. The increase followed an expansion of evening hours that allows select venues to remain open until 9 p.m. five days a week, giving residents and tourists more opportunities to explore the city after work. More than 85,000 people visited the six venues between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. during the initial period, according to the city. The participating attractions are Seoul Museum of History, Seoul Museum of Craft Art, Seoul Baekje Museum, Unhyeon Palace, Namsangol Hanok Village and the Story of Sejong and Story of Admiral Yi Sunshin exhibition halls at Gwanghwamun. On Wednesday evening, Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited Seoul Museum of Craft Art, Unhyeon Palace and Sejong Center for the Perform