Since being designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Gimhae Daeseongdong Tombs have seen a significant increase in visitors.
The Daeseongdong Tomb Museum has already surpassed last year's total visitor count within just seven months of this year. The initial annual visitor target has also been exceeded, prompting a reassessment of goals.
According to the city of Gimhae, from January to the end of July this year, the museum recorded 73,622 visitors, exceeding last year's total of 71,233 by 2,389. This figure is based solely on actual museum admissions, not including participants in events.
A museum official stated, “Typically, we set our targets at 105% to 120% of the previous year's performance, but this year we have already surpassed our goal and need to adjust it.”
The increase in visitors is attributed to heightened awareness following the UNESCO World Heritage designation of the Gaya Tumuli in 2023. However, museum officials believe that the recent surge cannot be solely explained by the UNESCO listing.
The primary reason for the visitor boom is the increased recognition following last year's UNESCO designation of the Gaya Tumuli. Notably, group visitors from the Seoul and Gyeonggi areas have significantly increased, and the recent attendance of participants and experts from the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan has positively influenced visits to nearby Gimhae.
There has also been a rise in foreign visitors, with over 3,000 recorded by the end of July. While specific statistics by nationality are not compiled, the museum noted a marked increase in group visitors from Taiwan and Japan.
The special exhibition “Meeting the Divine Island of Gaya,” part of the World Heritage Japan-Korea Exchange, is also attracting interest. This exhibition is based on the collaboration between the Gimhae Daeseongdong Tomb Museum and the Munakata City Uminomichi Munakata Museum in Japan.
The two museums have maintained a partnership for about a decade, facilitating exchanges. The special exhibition will be open for free until October 11.
Gimhae's next challenge is to translate the increased visitor numbers into economic benefits for the local community. The area surrounding the Daeseongdong Tombs is home to significant historical and tourist attractions, including the Suro Wangneung and Bongri Dan-gil.
Currently, programs such as stamp tours and a national heritage visitor passport initiative are in place, but a detailed analysis is needed to determine how museum visits will translate into increased patronage and longer stays in the surrounding areas.
From August 28, the “2026 World Heritage Festival - Gaya Tumuli” will take place over two weeks. If the upward trend in visitors continues through the festival and into the fall tourism season, the impact of the Daeseongdong Tombs' UNESCO designation on Gimhae's tourism market will become clearer.
Gimhae Mayor Jeong Yeong-du stated, “The Daeseongdong Tomb Museum is a specialized museum that introduces the starting point of Gaya culture and represents the Gaya Tumuli, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We will promote the value of Gaya heritage through various programs both domestically and internationally.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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