Record-Breaking Tourism in South Korea: Over 10.7M Visitors in 2026
In an unprecedented event, South Korea has made tourism history in 2026, welcoming more than 10.7 million international visitors by mid-July. This milestone was achieved significantly earlier than any previous year, as per the data from the Korea Tourism Organization and South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The first quarter of 2026 alone saw a record-breaking 4.76 million foreign tourist arrivals — the highest first-quarter figure ever. The momentum continued into the second quarter, with the 10-million-visitor mark being surpassed by late June, approximately one month ahead of the same milestone in 2025.
The major contributors to this surge include China, Japan, Taiwan, the United States, France, Italy, and Hong Kong. Notably, Taiwan posted an impressive 37.7% year-on-year increase in the first quarter.
Cities like Seoul, Busan, and Jeju Island continue to draw in visitors with their enticing blend of K-pop culture, culinary tourism, heritage sites, and world-class shopping. Factors such as improved air connectivity, expanded regional airport capacity, and broader visa access have all played a part in this historic growth wave.
Tourism authorities are now setting their sights on an ambitious 30 million annual visitors as a long-term goal. Experts believe that South Korea is well on its way to achieving its highest-ever annual inbound tourism performance.
Source: MICETravelAdvisor.com – South Korea Welcomes Over Ten Million International Visitors in 2026