Foreign Tourist Arrivals Hit Record 15.05M Through Aug

As of September 28, 2026, foreign tourist arrivals to Korea hit a record 15.05 million from January through August, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. That's up 21.6% year over year, and Korea crossed the 15-million mark roughly a month earlier than it did last year.

15.05 millionCumulative foreign tourist arrivals to Korea, Jan–Aug 2026

21.6%Year-over-year growth in tourist arrivals

₩14.02 trillion (~$10.1B)Foreign tourist card spending, Jan–Aug 2026

27.8%Share of arrivals entering via regional airports and ports

Key points

August alone brought 2.25 million visitors, the highest total ever recorded for that month.
Foreign tourists' card spending topped 14 trillion won, growing even faster than visitor numbers.
The share of arrivals coming through regional airports and ports, rather than the Seoul area, hit its highest level of the year.
Chinese-speaking visitors led the surge, with steady growth across Southeast Asian countries as well.

According to figures released September 28 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization, the number of foreign visitors to Korea through August set a new record. The country crossed 15 million cumulative arrivals about a month earlier than last year, and August alone outdrew every previous August on record.

The spending numbers stand out even more. Foreign visitors' tourism-related card spending topped ₩14 trillion (roughly $10.1 billion) over the same period — growing faster than the headcount itself, a sign that per-visitor spending is climbing.

Entry points are diversifying too. Instead of funneling through Incheon or Gimpo in the greater Seoul area, the share of visitors arriving via regional airports and ports climbed to its highest point this year, suggesting inbound tourism's center of gravity is inching away from Seoul. By nationality, visitors from Greater China — mainland China and Taiwan — rose sharply, and Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia all saw increases without exception. Indonesia posted the steepest growth of any Southeast Asian country, emerging as a new growth engine.

Behind the surge is the government's push to lower entry barriers. Since late March, Korea has eased multiple-entry visa requirements for 11 Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia, and since late May it has temporarily allowed visa-free entry for Indonesian group tourists. The Korea Tourism Organization has also set up a visa-assistance desk in New Delhi, India, and simplified screening paperwork in Manila, the Philippines, as part of its on-the-ground support.

The ministry said it plans to keep streamlining entry procedures and tying promotion to K-culture through the fourth quarter, aiming to sustain the momentum through October's peak travel season.

In Korea right nowIn Korea, the numbers are being welcomed as a bright spot to offset sluggish domestic consumption. Shopping districts like Myeongdong and Jongno report a visible uptick in foreign foot traffic, and regions outside the capital are increasingly hoping to cash in on visitor spending too.

FAQ

Why did foreign tourist arrivals jump so much this year?

Easier entry, including relaxed multiple-entry visa rules for 11 Southeast Asian countries and a temporary visa-free trial for Indonesian group tourists, combined with stepped-up on-the-ground promotion, drove the surge.

Which nationalities saw the biggest increases?

Visitors from Greater China, including mainland China and Taiwan, rose the most, while Indonesia posted the steepest growth among Southeast Asian countries.

Are more Koreans traveling abroad too?

Yes — about 19.81 million Koreans traveled overseas from January through August, reaching 98.7% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels.