South Korea Tourism Statistics - How Many People Visit? (2023)

Page last updated: 19 November 2024

South Korea attracts millions of visitors every year due to its vibrant cities, landscapes, cultural heritage, and the global phenomenon of K-dramas and K-pop.

Overview

How many people visit South Korea each year?

Over 11.03 million international tourists visited South Korea in 2023.¹

In 2019, South Korea welcomed 17.5 million international visitors marking the highest recorded visitors in history.

When the pandemic started, this number dropped by 85% to 2.5 million visits in 2020.

By 2021, international tourists increased by 61% with 967,000 visitors.

Inbound tourism rose with 3.1 million visitors in 2022, and tourism continued to recover in 2023 with 11.03 million visitors, but this was still 36% less than pre-pandemic figures.

How many people visited South Korea in 2024?

A total of 10.67 million international tourists visited South Korea from January to August of 2024. Note: This is just preliminary data and is subject to change.

2024 Tourist Arrivals in South Korea
Months	Number of Visitors (in millions)
Jan	0.88
Feb	1.03
Mar	1.49
Apr	1.46
May	1.42
Jun	1.42
Jul	1.41
Aug	1.56

How many people visited South Korea in 2023?

Over 11.03 million international tourists visited South Korea in 2023. This was a 255% increase compared to the previous year (3.2 million).

How much do tourists spend in South Korea every year?

international visitors spent a total of over $15.01 billion during trips to South Korea in 2023.

Inbound tourist expenditure in South Korea generated $25.46 billion in 2019.
This number decreased to $11.52 billion in 2020 due to coronavirus travel restrictions and fewer international visitors. This decreased by another 1% in 2021 to $11.43 million.

In 2022, international tourism revenue increased to $14.50 billion and continued to rise in 2023, with $15.01 billion.

How much did tourists spend in South Korea in 2023?

In 2023, international tourists spent $15.01 billion during their trips to South Korea.

How much revenue does South Korea make in tourism?

According to the WTTC, South Korea’s total tourism revenue in 2019 was ₩10 trillion. In 2022, South Korea’s tourism revenue amounted to ₩7.7 trillion, representing 7.6% of the total GDP.

Which country visits South Korea the most?

The leading source of foreign tourists to South Korea is China, followed by Japan, Taiwan, the United States, and Hong Kong.²

In 2023, China was the top source of international visitors to South Korea, accounting for about 6 million visitors.

Japan also contributed about 3 million tourists.

Germany accounted for 1.3 million international visits. The United States and Hong Kong had a market share of 1 million and 700,000 visits.

How much is the average spending per capita in South Korea?

The average visitor spending amounted to $1399 in 2021, and $1071 in 2022.

How long do visitors stay in South Korea?

Inbound tourists generally spent 7.5 days exploring South Korea’s popular cities and attractions.

South Korea Tourism Statistics – Economic Impact

The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2024 Economic Impact Research (EIR) highlighted that South Korea’s travel and tourism sector grew by 18.2% to ₩84.71 trillion in 2023.³

The sector created 76,600 new jobs, increasing total employment to 1.34 million, a 6.1% rise.

International visitor spending reached ₩24.3 trillion, and domestic spending climbed to ₩34.45 trillion.

When is the best time to visit South Korea?

April, August, and November are the best times to visit South Korea

April of 2023 welcomed 1.6 million visitors drawn by the cherry blossom season and events like the Jinhae and Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festivals..

August received 1.6 million visitors. This marked the peak summer vacation period, highlighted by the popular Boryeong Mud Festival.

October attracted 1.6 million tourists who enjoyed its autumn weather and vibrant festivals, including the Busan International Film Festival and Seoul Lantern Festival.

How popular is South Korea as a tourist destination?

South Korea’s popularity as a tourist destination continues to grow, driven by the global spread of Korean popular culture, including K-pop and K-drama.⁴

In 2023, TIME Magazine named Jeju Island, often called the Hawaii of South Korea, one of the World’s 50 Greatest Places.

The increase in interest has led to more travel opportunities, with airlines like Delta Air Lines expanding nonstop services to South Korea, enhancing connectivity for international visitors.

South Korea Travel Statistics – International & Domestic Tourism

In 2023, South Korea received a total of 286.92 million international and domestic tourists.

Pre-Pandemic Period (2016-2019): South Korea experienced steady growth in both international and domestic visitors, peaking in 2019 with 362 million visitors.

Pandemic Impact (2020-2021): The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted tourism, causing a 32% drop in 2020 and a further decrease in 2021 with 246 million visitors.

Despite the pandemic, domestic tourism showed more resilience compared to international tourism, reflecting reliance on local travel during global disruptions.

Why do people visit South Korea?

Food/Culinary is the main reason why people visit South Korea. It attracted 431,000 visitors in 2020, accounting for 16% of the total, highlighting the global interest in Korean cuisine

Nature/Travel drew 344,000 visitors, representing 13%, showcasing South Korea’s natural beauty, including mountains, beaches, and parks.

Shopping brought in 336,000 visitors, making up 13% of the share, reflecting South Korea’s reputation for fashion, cosmetics, and bustling markets.

History/Culture accounted for 186,000 visits (7.2% of the total), underscoring the country’s rich heritage and cultural landmarks.

Other Reasons comprised 1,297,000 visits, making up 50% of the total. This indicated a diverse range of attractions and interests among visitors.

South Korea Tourist Attractions

Everland, South Korea’s largest theme park and resort, attracted 5.7 million visitors from around the world.

KINTEX, the vast Korean International Exhibition Center, had 5.31 million visitors, making it a popular venue for meetings, conferences, and exhibitions.

Lotte World, offering both indoor and outdoor attractions, brought joy to 4.52 million visitors in its expansive theme park.

The National Museum of Korea, showcasing Korean history, culture, and art, welcomed 3.4 million visitors in 2022.

Gyeongbokgung Palace, the grandest of South Korea’s five palaces dating back to the Joseon Dynasty, hosted 3.39 million visitors.

Asia Travel Statistics

Other Travel Statistics by Country (New Published)

References

UNWTO: Inbound Statistics in South Korea ↩︎
KTO: Inbound Key Figures Statistics of South Korea ↩︎
WTTC: Economic Impact of South Korea’s Tourism in 2023 ↩︎
TP: South Korea Growth in Popularity ↩︎