What is the Korean Heritage Visitor Passport?
The Korean Heritage Passport is an official travel program created by the Korea Heritage Service and the Korea Heritage Agency, designed to encourage travelers to explore Korea’s cultural heritage.
And yes, it actually looks like a real passport. If you’re a foreign visitor, you’ll get the red passport, known as K-Heritage Passport 1. It covers ’76 heritage sites across 10 routes’, where you can collect special stamps as you visit each location.
In September 2026, a second passport—K-Heritage Passport 2 (green)—was introduced with ’24 additional sites across 3 new routes’. That means the full Korean Heritage Routes now cover ‘100 locations across 13 routes’.
📌 At each participating site, you’ll find a designated self-stamping zone where you can stamp your passport yourself. And don’t worry—you ‘don’t need the passport to enter the heritage sites’.
It’s simply a fun way to turn your sightseeing into a stamp-collecting adventure.
K-Heritage Passport 1 vs. Passport 2
| K-Heritage Passport 1 | K-Heritage Passport 2 | |
| Routes | 10 routes | 3 new routes |
| Heritage Sites | 76 sites | 24 sites |
| Total Program | Original 76 sites | New 24 sites |
| 3 stamps | Passport case | – |
| 5 stamps | checkered towel | – |
| 10 stamps / 3 routes | Mini tumbler | – |
| 20 stamps / 5 routes | Mini suitcase | – |
| 40 stamps | Quilted gift set (handbag + passport cover) | – |
| Full completion | Commemorative plaque (10 routes + 76 stamps) | Completion gift + Completion Medal + 3 Route Badges |
| Main souvenir style | Collect more stamps → unlock more gifts | Complete Passport 2 → completion rewards |
There’s also a little extra motivation to keep going. Depending on how many stamps or routes you complete, you can claim special souvenirs, including heritage-themed badges and other limited gifts.
Collect Just 3 Stamps to Claim Your First Free Souvenir!
If you’re visiting Korea as a tourist, you can get your first souvenir with just 3 stamps. (for K-Heritage Passport 1)
If you’re starting your trip in Seoul, an easy way to get them is to visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and Jongmyo Shrine—all three are already on most first-time Korea itineraries. Just grab a stamp at each one, and you’ll have enough to claim your first souvenir.
Want to keep going? Collect ‘two more stamps’ to reach five, and you can unlock your ‘second souvenir’.
Where and How to Get Your Korean Heritage Passport
You can apply for K-Heritage Passport 1 or 2 online, but there’s an easier option if you’re already planning to visit Gyeongbokgung.
There’s a Visit Korean Heritage Campaign Promotion Center inside the café on the first floor of the National Palace Museum, right next to Gyeongbokgung.
You can also pick up your passport at the Korean Heritage Visitor Center in the Transportation Center at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1.
- Inside the Ediya Coffee shop at the National Palace Museum next to Gyeongbokgung Palace
🕒 Opening Hours : Daily- 09:30 AM – 05:30 PM
📅 Closed on : Every Last Monday of the Month
(Note: If that Monday is a public holiday, it stays open and closes the next day (Tuesday)
instead.)
New Year’s Day (January 1st), Lunar New Year’s Day & Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day) - Incheon International Airport Terminal 1, B1 (Transportation Center)
🕒 Opening Hours : Daily: 10:00 AM – 07:00 PM
📅 Closed on : Every Last Wednesday of the Month
Note: The center is open year-round (even on weekends and public holidays), but it closes regularly on the last Wednesday of each month for maintenance
Overseas visitors can receive a K-Heritage Passport free of charge at the Public Relations Center by presenting their passport.
How and Where to Claim Your Free Gifts and Rewards
Once you’ve collected enough stamps, make sure to pick up your souvenir before you leave Korea.
You can apply for your souvenir ahead of time using the ‘QR code on the back of your passport’. But if the online application feels like a hassle, no worries—you can also just stop by in person, show your stamped passport, and pick up your ‘free souvenir’.
All you have to do is visit the Korean Heritage Visitor Center at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1, B1 (Transportation Center). (Just a heads-up: you can’t pick up your souvenir at the National Palace Museum.)
Just keep in mind that international shipping isn’t available, so be sure to pick it up before you leave Korea.
if you’re planning a trip to Korea and want to explore beyond the usual tourist spots, the Korean Heritage Passport is a pretty fun souvenir—and a great excuse to add a few unexpected places to your itinerary.
Ready to start your Korea adventure with your Korean Heritage Passport in hand?