- The government aims for 20M inbound tourists in 2026, boosting the K-Pop Demon Hunters-led tourism surge.
- Strong tourism growth from China, Taiwan, and Japan is boosting local industries.
- Traveler preferences shifted toward immersive cultural experiences, supporting sustained growth through 2026 and beyond.
South Korea recorded an all-time high in foreign tourist arrivals in 2025, indicating a full-fledged tourism resurgence and Korean culture's global reach. The upshot is the country's best performance since COVID, with high demand for Korean content boosting a trend toward immersive, experience-driven, culture-focused travel.
As reported by Arirang TV, South Korean officials celebrated the milestone at Incheon International Airport, acknowledging Sharmaine Lee of Singapore as the 18.5 millionth tourist. This served as a symbolic reminder of South Korea's increasing worldwide appeal.
The country's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism attributed the increase to a combination of traditional attractions and new cultural exports, emphasizing the global reach of K-media. Officials noted that content like Netflix's animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters is contributing to increased tourism engagement.
K-Tourism Surge Shatters Records: China, Japan Boost Growth
The recent figures released indicate that the results may outperform the earlier industry and government projections of 18.5M tourists arriving in the country. The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism estimated that the number of inbound foreign visitors to Korea this year will surpass 18.7M. This is precisely 1M more than the pre-pandemic peak of 17.5M in 2019.
Arirang TV also noted the rise in Chinese arrivals in July and August, led by women in their 20s and 40s. Also, visitors from Taiwan increased 27% year on year to a record high, while Japanese arrivals hit 3.61M, the highest since 2012.
Asian and Middle Eastern visitor arrivals increased by 11.8% due to partnerships with regional travel agents and international online travel agencies (OTAs). While tourists from the Americas and Oceania regions rose by 14% because of a diversification strategy that included new and expanded flight services.
The government now plans to welcome 20M inbound visitors next year and 30M by 2030, establishing South Korea as a long-term hub for cultural tourism and international travel.
According to industry observers, the current increase reflects changed traveler preferences, with international visitors valuing real cultural experiences and regional engagement above traditional tourism. When combined with South Korea's vigorous global marketing drive, the trend is expected to underpin continued tourism growth through 2026 and beyond.
