When History Feels Alive: Heritage architecture and tourists' sense of the past at Gyeongbokgung Palace, South Korea
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Abstract
This study investigates the architectural tourism experience at Gyeongbokgung Palace through a non-participant observational approach. It explores how visitors engage with key architectural features, including gates, pavilions, and decorative elements, within an authentic heritage setting. The observations reveal that architectural design, spatial organization, visual appeal, and accessibility significantly influence visitor movement, engagement, and emotional responses. Intricately designed structures attract prolonged attention, while expansive open spaces encourage photography, exploration, and social interaction. The findings demonstrate that heritage architecture plays a vital role in shaping tourists' perceptions and experiences, offering valuable insights for enhancing heritage interpretation, visitor management, and sustainable cultural tourism.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Nur Farhani Abdullah, Mohd Hafizal Ismail, Noor Jalilah Jumaat , Ashirali Abdirashidov
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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