December 23, 2025 | 07:43 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - South Korea welcomed its 18.5 millionth foreign tourist on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, marking a new record for inbound travel. The total number of international arrivals is projected to reach 18.7 million by the end of December, surpassing the previous high of 17.5 million recorded in 2019.
The surge has been driven by growing global interest in Korean culture, pop culture attractions, and shopping destinations, alongside strong recoveries in key overseas markets.
Visitors from China saw a sharp increase, while arrivals from Taiwan rose by 27 percent compared to the previous year. Japanese tourists totaled 3.61 million, the highest figure in 13 years.
Tourist numbers from the Middle East and Asia increased by 11.8 percent, while arrivals from Europe and Oceania climbed 14 percent, reflecting broad-based growth across regions.
The milestone signals a full recovery of South Korea’s tourism sector following the pandemic-induced downturn and highlights the sustained global appeal of Korean culture, supported by targeted international marketing efforts. At the current pace, one foreign visitor arrives in the country every 1.68 seconds.
To mark the achievement, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a welcoming ceremony at Incheon International Airport for the 18.5 millionth visitor. Among those greeted was Sharmaine Lee from Singapore, who received a traditional Korean scarf and a bouquet from Vice Minister Kim Dae-hyun.
Despite the record-breaking performance, Kim said further efforts are needed to strengthen the sector. He noted that repeat visitation and travel to regional destinations remain relatively low.
“Our policy will focus on encouraging international tourists to explore areas beyond major cities to help revitalize regional tourism,” Kim said, as quoted by The Korea Times.
Seo Young-chung, acting head of the Korea Tourism Organization, echoed the call, stressing the importance of expanding local tourism offerings.
“We will actively identify and promote regional content so that more global visitors can experience the country’s diverse attractions,” he said.
At the 52nd Tourism Day ceremony in Seoul, held under the theme “Korean Tourism, Embracing the World,” Prime Minister Kim Min Seok announced an ambitious goal of attracting 30 million foreign visitors annually by 2030.
“With the continued global expansion of Korean culture, we aim to reach 30 million annual visitors before 2030 and further solidify Korea’s position as a leading tourist destination,” he said.
According to Korea JoongAng Daily, the event also honored 23 individuals from the tourism sector for their contributions to domestic tourism, along with 80 individuals and five companies recognized for their role in generating foreign exchange revenue.
Read: Japan Plans to Limit Number of Foreign Workers to 426,000 by 2027
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