South Korea Welcomes Record Number of Tourists in Early 2026

Apr 16, 2026

62 min

Apr 16, 2026 03:31

South Korea sees record foreign arrivals in Q1 2026

## Surge in Tourist Arrivals

South Korea experienced a significant increase in foreign visitors during the first quarter of 2026, with 4.76 million tourists entering the country. This marks a 23% rise compared to the same period in 2025, setting a new record for the first quarter.

## Factors Driving the Increase

The surge in arrivals was largely attributed to a major performance by K-pop sensation BTS in Seoul, which attracted fans from around the world. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism provided this preliminary data.

## Leading Countries of Origin

China led the influx with approximately 1.45 million visitors, a 29% increase. Japan followed with 940,000 tourists, marking a 20% rise. Taiwan saw the highest growth rate at 37.7%, with 540,000 visitors.

## Regional and Cruise Tourism

Tourism through regional airports increased by nearly 50%, with 850,000 arrivals, enhancing the share of tourists visiting local areas to 34.5%. Cruise tourism also rebounded strongly, with 338 ship calls at major ports like Jeju, Busan, and Incheon, up 52.9% from the previous year.

## Economic Impact

Tourist spending using foreign cards reached 3.21 trillion won, equivalent to US$2.18 billion, reflecting a 23% increase from the previous year. Additionally, travel satisfaction improved slightly, reaching 90.8 points.

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