Which overseas destinations are Korean travelers choosing most, and how have their shares changed?

Japan accounted for 38.7 percent of travelers, China 11.2 percent, Vietnam 11 percent and the United States 10.5 percent. Since 2024, Japan’s share rose 8.9 percentage points and China’s rose 5.8 points, while the U.S. share declined 4.8 points.

Why are Korean travelers favoring nearby Asian trips over Europe and North America?

BC Card attributed Europe’s declining share to a slower recovery in demand for long-distance travel and higher airfares. It said the weakening won against the U.S. dollar also made trips to North America less attractive; travelers quoted in the report cited limited time off, airfare costs and the physical demands of long-distance travel.

How do Korean travelers’ overseas spending patterns differ by destination?

Shopping made up 66.3 percent of overseas card transactions in China and 65.9 percent in Japan, with Taiwan at 56.4 percent. Food and drinks took a larger share in the United States, Australia and Thailand, while accommodation accounted for 7.8 percent in Vietnam and 4.9 percent in Thailand.

Korean travelers favor nearby Asia as Europe, North America lose ground

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Summary

Korean travelers are shifting toward nearby Asian destinations as Europe and North America lose share, according to BC Card data released Monday. Asia accounted for 74.3 percent of overseas travel spending in the first half of this year, up from 60.4 percent in the same period of 2024. BC Card linked Europe’s decline to slower recovery in long-distance travel demand and higher airfares, and said a weaker won against the U.S. dollar made North America less attractive. Japan led destination choices, while China ranked second.

Key Facts

Japan accounted for 38.7 percent of overseas travelers, followed by China at 11.2 percent, Vietnam at 11 percent and the United States at 10.5 percent.
Compared with 2024, Japan’s share of travelers rose 8.9 percentage points and China’s rose 5.8 points, while the U.S. share fell 4.8 points.
Shopping represented 66.3 percent of overseas card transactions in China and 65.9 percent in Japan; food and drinks accounted for 34.8 percent in the United States, the highest share among the listed destinations.
Men in their 30s were 1.4 times as likely as the average customer to travel overseas, while women in their 20s were 1.3 times as likely.
Customers earning at least 100 million won a year were 2.2 times as likely as the average customer to travel overseas and spent an average of 1.28 million won abroad.

By Lee Hyo-jin

Published Nov 2, 2026 2:09 pm KST

A check-in area at Incheon International Airport is crowded with travelers, Friday. Yonhap

Lee Ji-yeon, an office worker in her 30s, traveled solo to Japan's Kyoto in early October. She had considered destinations such as Canada and Australia, but ultimately opted for a shorter trip closer to home.

"It was difficult for me to take a long day off work, and considering the cost of airfare, I thought it would make more sense to take a short trip to a nearby country," she said.

A Seoul resident in her 60s surnamed Park is planning a trip to Hong Kong with friends in December.

"Long-distance travel has become physically demanding for me, so I ruled out destinations in Europe and North America. Traveling to other Asian countries is more convenient," Park said.

Their choices reflect a broader shift in Koreans' overseas travel habits.

Japan and China are attracting a growing share of Korean travelers, while Europe and North America are losing ground, according to data released Monday.

An analysis by BC Card of Koreans' overseas travel spending found that Asia accounted for 74.3 percent of their overseas travel spending in the first half of this year, from 60.4 percent in the same period of 2024.

Europe's share fell 6.7 percentage points to 12.3 percent, while North America's dropped 5.9 percentage points to 8.2 percent.

BC Card attributed Europe's decline to a slower recovery in demand for long-distance travel, as well as higher airfares. The weakening won against the U.S. dollar has also made trips to North America less attractive for Korean travelers, it noted.

By countries, Japan was the most popular destination, accounting for 38.7 percent of overseas travelers. China followed at 11.2 percent, just ahead of Vietnam at 11 percent. The United States came fourth at 10.5 percent.

The share of travelers visiting Japan rose 8.9 percentage points from 2024, while China's increased 5.8 percentage points. The U.S. share, in contrast, fell 4.8 percentage points.

The destinations also reflect different spending habits.

Shopping made up 66.3 percent of overseas card transactions in China and 65.9 percent in Japan, with Taiwan close behind at 56.4 percent.

Travelers to the U.S., Australia and Thailand were more likely to spend on food and drinks, which accounted for 34.8 percent, 33.5 percent and 32.7 percent of overseas transactions, respectively. Accommodation took up a relatively larger share of spending in Vietnam, at 7.8 percent, and Thailand at 4.9 percent.

Men in their 30s were the most likely to travel overseas, at 1.4 times the average, followed by women in their 20s at 1.3 times.

Residents of the Seoul metropolitan area were also more likely to travel abroad than those elsewhere.

The gap was even wider among higher-income and higher-spending customers. Those earning at least 100 million won ($74,300) a year were 2.2 times more likely to travel overseas than the average customer, spending an average of 1.28 million won abroad.

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