Can this year set a record for the highest number of foreign visitors to Korea ever... The first quarter of this year already saw a record 4.76 million visitors.

*This content was translated by AI.

Will the number of foreign tourists visiting Korea this year surpass the record high of 18.93 million (2025)?

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister Choi Hwi-young, hereinafter Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) announced that the number of foreign tourists visiting Korea in the first quarter (January to March) of this year reached approximately 4.76 million, achieving the largest quarterly figure on record despite the outbreak of the Middle East conflict in March. This represents a 23% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Notably, in March alone, approximately 2.06 million foreign visitors came to Korea, bolstered by BTS concerts, setting a new monthly record.

It is analyzed that the global popularity of 'K-Culture' combined with active efforts by both the public and private sectors to attract foreign tourists has borne fruit.

Looking at the markets, Chinese tourists exceeded 1.45 million (+29%), accounting for the largest share, while Japanese tourists also visited Korea, reaching 940,000 (+20.2%).

Growth momentum continued. The number of Taiwanese tourists rose to 540,000 (+37.7%), marking the most significant increase among major markets. Meanwhile, long-haul markets such as the United States and Europe saw visitor numbers climb to 690,000 (+17.1%), contributing to the diversification of inbound tourism to South Korea.

In the first quarter of this year, growth in the cruise tourism market also stood out. A total of 338 cruise ships arrived at major ports of call, including Jeju·Busan·Incheon, marking a 52.9% increase compared to the same period last year. This achievement is attributed to the government's efforts in developing port-of-call tourism content and enhancing policies to facilitate ship arrivals, and is widely regarded as a significant contribution to regional economic revitalization.

Regional visits, expansion of consumption, and other qualitative aspects show a clear upward trend in indicators

The activities and spending patterns of foreign visitors to Korea also showed positive changes. An analysis of data from "Korea Tourism Statistics," "Survey of Foreign Tourists," and "Korea Tourism Data Lab" revealed that the number of foreign visitors entering through regional airports in the first quarter of this year surged by 49.7%. Consequently, the regional visitation rate of foreign visitors to Korea rose to 34.5%, an increase of 3.2 percentage points (p) compared to the previous year.

Foreign card spending also rose by 23.0%, confirming that tourism is reemerging as a core industry driving the domestic economy. Overall satisfaction among visitors to Korea remained high at 90.8 points, earning excellent marks in qualitative aspects as well.

Establishing a foundation for sustained performance through aggressive overseas marketing and a unified institutional investor relations team

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is aggressively expanding overseas marketing efforts to sustain this growth momentum. The "K-Tourism Roadshow" is scheduled for March in Hong Kong (11th) and Shenzhen (12th).

QINGDAO (25th), the company targeted key markets by holding events in Osaka (9th), Tokyo (10th–12th), and Fukuoka (30th) in April. In particular, in March, Choi Hwi-yeong (Minister) participated in the "Korea Tourism Expo" (the 22nd) on the occasion of "Korea-China Friendship Week" (the 16th–22), conducting interviews with prominent local media outlets to directly promote tourism in Korea.

Furthermore, since the "Expanded National Tourism Strategy Meeting" chaired by the President in February, the government has been strengthening cooperation with institutional investors and making diversified efforts. In March, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, it expanded the scope of multiple-entry visas valid for five and ten years to include 12 countries, including China, Vietnam, and the Philippines, and increased the number of countries eligible for automated immigration inspection from 18 to 42.

Starting the 1st, the scope of expedited entry screening for international conference attendees will be expanded to include up to two companions, while on the 10th, the Korea Railroad Corporation and private sector entities will participate in the "Tourism Transportation" initiative.

A public-private consultation forum has been established to discuss collaborative measures for improving transportation convenience for out-of-town visitors in local tourism, thereby creating an environment that allows visitors to travel more conveniently.

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kang Jeong-won, Director of the Tourism Policy Office, stated, "Based on the appeal of 'K-Culture,' South Korea is firmly establishing itself as a top tourist destination sought by people worldwide. We will faithfully implement the three strategies announced at the 'Expanded National Tourism Strategy Meeting' chaired by the President in February — 'Inbound Tourism Daejeon Plan, Regional Tourism Leap Forward' — and continue to strengthen tourism competitiveness." He added, "Given that unexpected situations have arisen, including rising airfares due to increases in international oil prices and fuel surcharges, as well as a contraction in overseas travel sentiment caused by geopolitical instability, we will proactively respond and manage these threat factors."

Meanwhile, experts offer a cautious forecast that breaking the record for the highest number of foreign tourists this year will not be easy, despite the first quarter setting a record high and active joint government-private sector recruitment efforts, due to factors such as a general global economic slowdown triggered by the US-Iran war.

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*This content was translated by AI.