Evening Hours Boost Visitor Numbers at Seoul Cultural Facilities

Seoul's museums, traditional houses, and exhibition halls are seeing increased foot traffic as they remain open until evening. Since the city expanded evening hours at six major cultural facilities to five days a week, total visitors have surged to approximately 2.1 times the number during the previous period. The city aims to broaden cultural options for residents after work and enhance connections between exhibitions and nearby restaurants and cafes.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, from September 15 to October 31, approximately 1,198,000 visitors attended the six cultural facilities. This marks a significant increase compared to the 569,000 visitors recorded from August 1 to September 14, prior to the expansion. Since the new hours were implemented, over 85,000 visitors have come during the evening operating hours from 6 to 9 p.m.

The facilities included in this initiative are the Seoul Museum of History, Seoul Craft Museum, Hanseong Baekje Museum, Unhyeongung, Namsangol Hanok Village, and the Sejong and Chungmugong Story. The evening hours, previously limited to Fridays, have now been extended to Tuesday through Sunday, operating until 9 p.m. until the end of the month. Friday evening openings will continue through December.

Notably, Unhyeongung saw its average daily visitors increase from 886 before the expansion to 2,200 afterward, a rise of about 2.5 times. However, the overall increase in visitor numbers combines both daytime and evening attendees. The city plans to analyze evening demand, program participation, and citizen satisfaction to refine operations at each facility.

This initiative is part of the '24-Hour Vibrant Economic City Seoul' project, known as 'Seoul Culture Night.' It focuses on extending operating hours for cultural facilities and enhancing experiential programs that highlight the unique characteristics of each space, allowing residents and tourists to enjoy Seoul's culture in the evening.

Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the Seoul Craft Museum, Unhyeongung, and Sejong Center to experience programs and gather feedback from citizens and young artists.

At the Seoul Craft Museum, he viewed the collaborative exhibition 'Each Angle,' showcasing 54 works by 35 artists from the 17th cohort of the Sindang Creative Arcade, exploring craft work from five perspectives: creation, transformation, accumulation, structure, and connection.

At Unhyeongung, he participated in the evening experience program 'Moonlight Secret Mission,' where participants searched for a lost royal seal while exploring the site and engaging in traditional cultural activities. Mayor Oh enjoyed traditional games such as tuho (arrow throwing) and rolling hoops, as well as a tea ceremony.

Each facility offers a variety of evening programs. The Seoul Museum of History features a night exhibition tour led by curators and a family-oriented 'Midnight History Tour.' The Seoul Craft Museum presents 'Craft Night: Yoga & Meditation' and a 'Museum Night Run' through Bukchon. The Hanseong Baekje Museum offers a night picnic called 'Baekje Capital Moonlight Tour' and a classic manuscript program 'Moonlight Library.' Namsangol Hanok Village hosts a 'Night Escape Room' experience, while the Sejong and Chungmugong Story allows visitors to enjoy permanent exhibitions and a turtle ship boarding experience in the evening.

Mayor Oh Se-hoon stated, "We are extending the operating hours of cultural, artistic, and performance spaces managed by the city to create a vibrant 24-hour Seoul. In the future, we will continue to foster an environment where citizens can enjoy various cultural spaces with family and friends after work, refreshing both body and mind while spending their time actively."