As of October 22, 2026, about 17.1 million foreign tourists have visited South Korea from January through September, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The ministry expects the total to pass last year's full-year figure before the end of this month.
Key points
- About 17.1 million foreign visitors came to Korea in January–September, roughly 3 million more than a year earlier, a 21.5% increase.
- Foreign visitors' card spending on tourism-related purchases over the same period was about 15.9 trillion won, up 47.7%, more than double the growth rate in visitor numbers.
- About 3.24 million foreign visitors arrived through airports outside the Seoul metro area, a 37.4% jump.
According to tourism data the ministry released on Oct. 22, more than 3 million additional foreigners entered Korea through September compared with the same period last year. Last year's full-year total was about 18.94 million, and this year's running count has already passed 90% of that. With a gap of just over 1.8 million left, the ministry projects Korea will beat last year's annual record within October. September alone brought in about 2.06 million visitors, up 21.1% from a year earlier.
By country, Greater China led the growth. Chinese visitors numbered about 5.47 million, up roughly 29%, while Taiwan sent about 1.86 million, up more than 30%. Add Hong Kong and the Greater China total comes close to 8 million. Japan contributed about 3.12 million, up 16.9%, and arrivals from the Americas rose 12.0% and from Europe 20.0%, so most regions are trending up.
Spending jumped, too. Foreign visitors' card spending was about 15.9 trillion won, more than 5 trillion won above the same period last year. Visitor numbers rose by about a fifth while spending climbed nearly half, which suggests each traveler is spending more.
Travelers are also fanning out beyond the capital. About 3.24 million foreigners, around 19% of the total, arrived through airports outside the Seoul metro area, including Gimhae, Jeju, Cheongju and Daegu. Another 1.58 million or so came through seaports such as Busan and Yeosu, bringing the airport and port total to about 4.82 million. One caveat: these figures track where people entered the country, so they may not match where visitors actually stayed or spent money.
FAQ
Has Korea already passed last year's total visitor count?
Not yet. The January–September total is about 90% of last year's full-year figure, and the ministry expects it to be passed in October.
Which country sent the most tourists?
China, with about 5.47 million visitors, followed by Japan at about 3.12 million and Taiwan at about 1.86 million.
Are more visitors going beyond Seoul?
Arrivals through airports outside the Seoul metro area rose 37.4%, faster than the overall growth rate. But the data tracks entry points, so it may not reflect where visitors actually stayed.
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