Seoul's historic palaces have emerged as the city's most popular autumn destinations, based on comprehensive big data analysis released by city officials on Wednesday. The findings, which analyzed social media activity, consumer behavior patterns, and other digital footprints from last October, revealed that these cultural landmarks significantly outperformed other attractions in capturing public interest from both local residents and international visitors.
Gyeongbok Palace dominated the rankings with an impressive 30,000 social media mentions, establishing itself as the clear favorite among autumn tourists. The interconnected Changgyeong Palace and Changdeok Palace secured the fifth position together, while Deoksu Palace claimed the seventh spot in the comprehensive analysis. These results highlight the enduring appeal of Seoul's royal heritage sites during the fall season when the autumn foliage creates particularly stunning backdrops for visitors.
Seoul Forest claimed the second position in the rankings, attracting visitors with its spectacular maple and ginkgo tree photography locations. The park's popularity stems not only from its natural beauty but also from its diverse experiential attractions, including specialized insect and butterfly gardens that provide unique educational opportunities for families and nature enthusiasts.
The Hyundai Seoul, a premier flagship department store situated in Yeongdeungpo District, surprisingly secured third place in the autumn attraction rankings. Meanwhile, Cheonggye Stream ranked fourth, demonstrating remarkable international appeal by drawing approximately 240,000 foreign tourists throughout the autumn season, with particularly strong representation from Japanese and Chinese visitors.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Mount Nam has experienced a dramatic surge in interest recently, largely attributed to the global success of the Netflix animated film "K-Pop Demon Hunters." The movie prominently features Mount Nam and the iconic N Seoul Tower among other Seoul landmarks, creating significant tourism buzz. City officials indicate that this entertainment-driven interest could substantially impact this year's attraction rankings.
The Netflix effect on Mount Nam tourism has been particularly striking, with related content mentions and social media references nearly doubling between June, when the film was released, and August. The mountain's estimated foreign visitor count has more than doubled, reaching 101,000 by August of this year compared to just 43,500 during the same period last year, demonstrating the powerful influence of popular media on tourism trends in Seoul.
