Kuvvet Ayse, the first foreigner to complete the “National Heritage Visitor Passport Tour” (Image provided by the Korea Heritage Service)
SEOUL, June 9 (Korea Bizwire) — A Turkish national has become the first foreigner to complete South Korea’s National Heritage Passport Tour, a cultural initiative launched to promote the beauty and value of the country’s historic sites, the Korea Heritage Service announced Monday.
Kuvvet Ayse, the traveler in question, visited all 76 designated national heritage sites, including Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul and Naksansa Temple in Yangyang, collecting official stamps in a special passport-style booklet provided by the government.
The passport tour program, introduced in May 2023, encourages visitors to explore the country’s cultural treasures. Participants receive a “visitor passport” resembling an actual travel document and collect stamps at each site. Upon completion, they receive commemorative gifts.
Changdeokgung is one of the Five Grand Palaces built during the Joseon Dynasty. (image: Wikimedia)
According to the Korea Heritage Service, more than 260,000 passports have been issued to date, but only 396 individuals, including Ayse, have visited all 76 locations.
Ayse began her journey on April 2, 2025, at Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and completed the tour in just under two months. A longtime admirer of Korean culture, she studied the Korean language in Turkey and described the experience as deeply moving.
“I was captivated by the beauty of Korea’s national heritage,” Ayse said. “I hope more people around the world will come to appreciate its cultural value.”
To celebrate the milestone, the Korea Heritage Service will present Ayse with a certificate of completion at an official ceremony on June 10.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
