Korea’s tourism boom shatters records as foreign arrivals top 2 mil. again

Foreign tourists stroll inside the grounds of Gyeongbok Palace in Gwanghwamun, Seoul / Yonhap

Korea’s tourism rebound is turning into something bigger.

Fueled by the global spread of K-culture and surging demand from across Asia and beyond, the country drew more than 2 million foreign visitors in April, crossing that milestone for the second month in a row and setting a new record pace for inbound tourism.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Thursday that 2.03 million foreign travelers visited Korea in April, up 19 percent from 1.71 million a year earlier.

The figure follows March, when monthly inbound tourism surpassed 2 million for the first time.

From January through April, Korea welcomed 6.77 million foreign visitors, a 21 percent increase from 5.58 million during the same period last year and the highest four-month total on record.

Chinese travelers accounted for the largest share in April, with 574,283 arrivals, followed by Japanese visitors at 304,053.

Tourist arrivals from Taiwan reached 192,854, while visitors from Hong Kong totaled 70,802.

The ministry also reported continued growth from long-haul markets, including the Americas and Europe, which together accounted for more than 419,000 visitors in April.

Officials said the increase came despite rising global oil prices and higher fuel surcharges tied to instability in the Middle East, noting that previously booked travel plans appeared largely unaffected.

Regional tourism also expanded sharply.

Foreign arrivals through regional airports climbed 38 percent from a year earlier to 355,376 in April, reflecting growing efforts to spread tourism demand beyond the Seoul metropolitan area.

The ministry said it plans to strengthen international flight routes to regional airports and support transit connections between Incheon and other parts of the country.

Foreign tourists also spent more money during their visits.

The ministry estimated foreign visitors spent 1.9 trillion won ($1.4 billion) domestically in April, including online purchases, marking the highest monthly total since related tracking began in 2018.

Kang Jung-won, director general for tourism policy at the ministry, said the latest figures reflected both the global appeal of K-culture and coordinated government support for the tourism industry.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.