South Korea: 17.11 million foreign visitors in Jan-Sept, card spending up 47.7%
In short
South Korea's tourism ministry said 17.11 million foreign tourists visited from January to September, up 21.5% from a year earlier. Foreigners' tourism-related card spending rose 47.7% to 15.9416 trillion won. The ministry expects arrivals to pass last year's full-year total of 18.94 million in October.
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South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on 22 October that 17.11 million foreign tourists visited the country from January to September, up 21.5% from 14.08 million in the same period last year. Dong-A Ilbo put the increase at 3.03 million visitors. Newsis reported that the ministry published the figures in its '2026 September inbound tourism trends' release. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
In September alone, 2.06 million foreign tourists came, up 21.1% from September last year. Asia Economy noted that monthly arrivals have topped 2 million for three months in a row, after 2.09 million in July and 2.25 million in August. Newsis said August set a monthly record, and that cumulative arrivals through August were 15.05 million, up 21.6%. [ 1 , 3 ]
Spending grew faster than visitor numbers. Foreigners' tourism-related card spending for January-September was 15.9416 trillion won, up 5.1476 trillion won, or 47.7%, from 10.794 trillion won a year earlier. Asia Economy said this is about 2.2 times the growth rate of visitor numbers, and that the figure includes online spending and is separate from total travel costs or actual per-person spending. Newsis reported September card spending of about 1.871 trillion won, about 113.7 billion won less than August's 1.9847 trillion won. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
By market, China sent the most visitors, 5.47 million, up 29.2% and about 32% of the total, according to Asia Economy. Japan followed with 3.12 million (up 16.9%) and Taiwan with 1.86 million (up 32.4%). Hong Kong sent 550,000 (up 18.6%), the Americas 1.62 million (up 12.0%) and Europe 1.19 million (up 20.0%). In September, Newsis reported, China again led with about 660,000, followed by Japan with about 420,000 and Taiwan with about 210,000. [ 1 , 3 ]
Entry routes shifted. Regional airports such as Gimhae, Jeju, Cheongju and Daegu took in 3.24 million foreign tourists, up 37.4%, or 19.0% of all visitors. Regional ports including Busan, Jeju, Seogwipo, Yeosu and Gunsan took in 1.58 million, up 14.5%, or 9.2%. Together they accounted for 28.2% of entries. Newsis said that share was 0.4 points above the 27.8% for January-August, while Asia Economy put it about 1.6 points above a year earlier. Seoul-area airports received 11.79 million, up 17.3%, and Newsis reported about 500,000 entries through Seoul-area ports, up 70.4%. Dong-A Ilbo cautioned that the figures reflect entry routes, not actual stays or spending in the regions. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Last year's full-year total was 18.94 million, leaving a gap of 1.83 million, and the ministry expects to pass it in October. Newsis added that attention is turning to this year's 23 million target. Kang Jeong-won (강정원), head of the ministry's tourism policy office, said efforts on awareness, travel conditions and content are 'bearing fruit', and that the ministry will hold a press briefing soon on this year's results and next year's policy direction. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The ministry's figures show spending growing about twice as fast as visitor numbers, and arrivals through regional airports and ports rising faster than through the Seoul-area airports. The outlets note that the card-spending and entry-route figures do not show total trip spending or where visitors stayed and spent money.
Key facts
- The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said 17.11 million foreign tourists visited Korea in January-September, up 21.5% from 14.08 million a year earlier. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- September arrivals were 2.06 million, up 21.1% from September last year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Foreigners' tourism-related card spending for January-September was 15.9416 trillion won, up 47.7% (5.1476 trillion won) from 10.794 trillion won a year earlier. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Visitors from China totalled 5.47 million (up 29.2%), Japan 3.12 million (up 16.9%) and Taiwan 1.86 million (up 32.4%). [ 1 , 3 ]
- Entries through regional airports rose 37.4% to 3.24 million, 19.0% of all visitors; entries through regional ports rose 14.5% to 1.58 million, 9.2% of the total. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The ministry expects arrivals to exceed last year's full-year total of 18.94 million in October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Cumulative January-September arrivals were 17.11 million, up 21.5% year on year, according to the ministry as reported by all three outlets. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Tourism-related card spending by foreigners was 15.9416 trillion won, up 47.7%, more than double the growth rate of visitor numbers. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Regional airports and ports together accounted for 28.2% of entries. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The ministry expects the full-year 2025 total of 18.94 million to be passed in October, and plans a press briefing on this year's results and next year's policy direction. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- How much foreign visitors actually spent in total and per person. Asia Economy says the card-spending figure includes online spending and is distinct from total travel costs or actual per-person spending.
- Whether the rise in regional entries means more visitors stayed and spent in regional areas. Dong-A Ilbo says the figures are based on entry routes and do not indicate actual stays or spending; Asia Economy says regions visited, length of stay and regional spending need further study.
- Whether the government's 2026 target of 23 million visitors will be met. Newsis says attention is turning to the target, but none of the documents gives a forecast for the year.