Visitors to Korea to hit record 18.7 million this year, outpacing pre-pandemic high

Korea is on track to welcome a record 18.7 million visitors by the end of 2025, surpassing the previous high of 17.5 million set in 2019, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Tuesday. The surge comes as the country continues to recover from the pandemic-era dip in travel, with international tourists returning in large numbers and a growing interest in Korea’s cultural attractions and shopping districts driving the historic rebound. This year’s strong inbound momentum came from robust growth across major markets. Visitors from China rebounded sharply, while arrivals from Taiwan grew 27 percent compared to last year. Japanese travelers surged to 3.61 million, the highest in 13 years. Middle East and Asian markets expanded by 11.8 percent, and visitors from Europe and Oceania increased by 14 percent. The achievement marks a full rebound of the country’s tourism sector after years of pandemic-induced decline, driven by the global appeal of K-culture and diversified marketing efforts targeting key international markets. The record number translates to roughly one visit