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Seokguram Grotto Anchors Gyeongju's Bid for Global Tourism Top 10

cultural-heritage · 2026-10-02

Perched at an altitude of 750 meters, the Seokguram Grotto in South Korea serves as a draw for the city of Gyeongju, which aims to rank among the world's top 10 tourist destinations. The site, celebrated as a masterpiece of Buddhist art, is central to Gyeongju's strategy of leveraging cultural heritage, Buddhism and soft power. The city has set a target of welcoming 60 million visitors annually.

Key facts

  • The Seokguram Grotto is located at an altitude of 750 meters.
  • The grotto is described as a jewel of Buddhist art.
  • Gyeongju seeks to enter the top 10 global tourist destinations.
  • The city aims to attract 60 million visitors per year.
  • The site combines heritage, Buddhism and soft power according to Le Monde.

Entities

Institutions

  • Le Monde

Locations

  • Seokguram Grotto
  • Gyeongju
  • South Korea

Sources