Do not go gentle into that good night, old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light, though wise men at their end know dark is right, because their words had forked no lightning they, do not go gentle into that good night.
Korea hits 10 mil. tourist milestone month ahead of last year’s pace
International travelers navigate a bustling shopping street in Seoul’s Myeong-dong area in this undated photo. Yonhap
By Jhoo Dong-chan
Driven by a robust influx of visitors from across Asia, Europe and the Americas, Korea’s tourism recovery has accelerated to historic levels, reaching a pivotal milestone well ahead of projections.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Wednesday that the total number of foreign tourists visiting the country this year has officially surpassed 10 million. The benchmark, passed over the weekend of June 20, arrived roughly a month faster than last year, when the country did not reach the same threshold until mid-July.
The sudden acceleration in arrivals has provided a massive windfall for the domestic economy.
In May alone, foreign credit card expenditures — including online transactions — skyrocketed to an estimated 2.12 trillion won ($1.53 billion), according to data released by the state-run Korea Tourism Organization. The figure marks the first time since data tracking began in January 2018 that monthly foreign tourist spending has crossed the 2 trillion won threshold, registering a staggering 67.1 percent increase compared to May of last year.
"Despite headwinds, such as rising fuel surcharges fueled by ongoing Middle East tensions, the growth trajectory remains remarkably resilient," said Kang Jung-won, director general of the ministry’s tourism policy bureau.
The boom is fueled by robust demand from neighboring Asian countries alongside a steady stream of long-haul travelers.
China and Japan remained the primary drivers of growth, sending 560,000 and 360,000 visitors, respectively, in May. Travelers from Taiwan and Hong Kong also posted double-digit gains, while arrivals from the Americas and Europe combined to add another 360,000 tourists during the same period. From January through May, total cumulative arrivals hit 8.72 million, up 21 percent year-on-year.
Crucially for government planners who have long sought to ease systemic overcrowding in the capital, tourists are increasingly venturing beyond Seoul. Regional airports outside the metropolitan area welcomed 360,000 arriving international passengers in May, a 32 percent jump from the previous year.
To sustain the current momentum, tourism officials said they plan to step up joint marketing initiatives with private export sectors and prominent K-pop labels to highlight regional destinations.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.