S. Korea's Annual Foreign Arrivals Surpass 20 Mln for 1st Time
Foreign arrivals reached 20 million for the first time as spending rose 47.7% through September, the culture ministry said.
- Korea welcomed more than 20 million foreign tourists on Thursday, reaching a record milestone 14 years after first recording 10 million annual visitors in 2012.
- The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism attributed growth to the global popularity of Korean culture, while government initiatives improved immigration procedures, expanded regional flight services, and strengthened price regulations.
- Foreign tourists spent 15.9 trillion won through September, up 47.7 percent from last year, while arrivals through regional airports reached 3.24 million and seaports totaled 1.58 million, extending benefits beyond Seoul.
- Chae Hwi-young, minister of culture, sports and tourism, called the milestone "the starting point for Korea's leap toward becoming an irreplaceable tourism powerhouse," while The Ministry plans commemorative events.
- The Ministry is preparing infrastructure for 30 million and eventually 40 million visitors, supported by a 2026 survey of 27,000 people across 30 countries showing 55 percent interest in Korean food.
11 Articles
11 Articles
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that the number of foreign tourists visiting Korea has exceeded 20 million for the first time in history. This figure, which broke the all-time record for the second consecutive year, reflects the high interest of foreigners in Korean culture, such as experiencing Hanbok, and demonstrates the rapid growth of the tourism industry.
The number of foreign tourists visiting Korea this year has surpassed 20 million, setting a new all-time high. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced this on the 12th, explaining that this achievement was accomplished 14 years after the number of foreign visitors first exceeded 10 million in 2012. According to the Ministry’s ‘Inbound Tourism Trends for September 2026,’ this year
For the first time in history, the number of foreign tourists visiting Korea surpassed 20 million per year. Major tourist attractions in Gyeongbuk, such as Gyeongju, where the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit was held last year, and Andong, where the Korea-Japan summit was held this year, are also attracting international attention. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on the 12th, the number of foreign visito…
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