South Korea is estimated to have passed its 18.94 million annual visitor record on 27 October. Arrivals rose 21.5% in January–September as Japan and Thailand fell.
Cover image: Shoppers on Myeongdong's main street in Seoul (2007 file photo) — photo by by thelearnr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
South Korea's annual foreign tourist record fell on Tuesday 27 October, by the government's estimate, with more than two months of 2026 to run. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) estimates that arrivals passed the 2025 record of 18.94 million on 27 October, based on a provisional 18.91 million through Monday 26 October and a daily average of about 64,000, the Korea Herald reported.
Korea is growing faster than its main regional rivals. Arrivals rose 21.5 per cent to 17.11 million in January–September, while Japan fell 2.9 per cent and Thailand 3.8 per cent over the same months, according to the ministry. Each country uses its own counting method. Mainland China, Korea's largest market, grew 29.2 per cent.
When did South Korea break its foreign tourist record in 2026?
The date is an estimate, not a counted total. Yonhap, via the Korea Times, said the year's arrivals were "believed to have surpassed" the record that day.
The next milestone is due this month. If the trend holds, the ministry expects about 1.94 million visitors in November, taking the annual total past 20 million for the first time in the third week of the month.
Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young said the early record had brought the year-end target of 23 million "within reach". Hitting it needs about 4.09 million more arrivals from 27 October to 31 December, roughly 62,000 a day by our calculation, slightly below this year's average.
Which markets are growing, and how does Korea compare with Japan and Thailand?
Greater China (China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) supplied 46.3 per cent of January–September visitors, according to Korea.net. Japan was the second-largest market with 3.12 million, up 16.9 per cent.
| Destination or market | Arrivals, Jan–Sep 2026 | Change year on year | Reported by |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea, all foreign visitors | 17.11 million | +21.5% | MCST |
| Korea: visitors from mainland China | 5.47 million | +29.2% | MCST |
| Korea: visitors from Japan | 3.12 million | +16.9% | MCST |
| Korea: visitors from Taiwan | Not given | +32.4% | MCST |
| Japan, all foreign visitors | 30.73 million | −2.9% | JNTO |
| Thailand, all foreign visitors | 23.2 million | −3.8% | Thai tourism ministry |
| Vietnam, all foreign visitors | 17.7 million | +14.5% | Vietnam NSO |
Japan is moving the other way. Its mainland Chinese arrivals fell 44.5 per cent in September, our report on Japan's September arrivals found. JNTO notes that Beijing has repeatedly advised citizens to avoid travel to Japan since November 2025. Japan's nine-month total was 30.73 million, down 2.9 per cent, but still about 1.8 times Korea's.
Neither country's arrival data shows how many Chinese travellers picked Korea over Japan.
Thailand's preliminary count was 24.42 million foreign arrivals from 1 January to 17 October, down 4.12 per cent, as we reported in our coverage of Thailand's proposed departure tax.
How much are foreign visitors spending, and are they leaving Seoul?
Card spending by foreign visitors rose 47.7 per cent to 15.9 trillion won (US$11.88 billion, on The Star's conversion) in January–September, more than twice the growth in arrivals.
Shopping, including duty-free, took 37 per cent, according to Korea.net. Accommodation took 19.6 per cent, and medicine and wellness, which covers hospitals, pharmacies and cosmetics, 16.6 per cent.
Gateways outside the capital grew faster than arrivals overall. Entries through airports and seaports outside the capital region rose to 4.82 million from 3.74 million, the Korea Herald reported: about 29 per cent, by our calculation.
What does the government credit, and what could change in 2027?
The ministry credited Korean culture, more flights, eased visa rules, a supplementary budget drawn up in response to the war in the Middle East, and the upgrade of the National Tourism Strategy Meeting to a presidential body, the Korea Herald reported.
Korean Air said strong inbound and transit demand via Incheon offset softer outbound travel from Korea in July–September, as covered in our report on Korean Air's third-quarter results.
One date matters for 2027 bookings. Nationals of more than 20 countries and regions, including the US, the UK and Japan, can enter without a K-ETA only until 31 December 2026. No extension had been announced when our K-ETA guide was checked on 16 October, and we found none as of 1 November 2026.
"Inbound tourism will set a new record every day from now on," Chae said, according to the Korea Herald.
Frequently asked questions
How many foreign tourists visited South Korea in 2026?
About 18.91 million through Monday 26 October, on provisional ministry figures. The ministry estimates that the total passed the 2025 record the next day. January–September arrivals were 17.11 million, up 21.5 per cent. The ministry expects the annual total to pass 20 million in the third week of November.
What was South Korea's previous record for foreign visitors?
The previous annual record was 18.94 million, set in 2025. The culture ministry estimates that 2026 arrivals passed it on 27 October, based on a provisional count and a daily average of about 64,000. The government's full-year target is 23 million, and its longer-term goal is 30 million a year.
Which country sends the most tourists to South Korea?
Mainland China. It sent 5.47 million visitors in January–September 2026, up 29.2 per cent, and Greater China (China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) made up 46.3 per cent of all arrivals, according to the ministry. Japan was second with 3.12 million, up 16.9 per cent.
Will visitors need a K-ETA for South Korea in 2027?
Possibly. Nationals of more than 20 countries and regions, including the US, the UK and Japan, are exempt from K-ETA until 31 December 2026. Unless Seoul extends the exemption, they will need an approved K-ETA before boarding from 1 January 2027. We found no extension announced as of 1 November 2026.
Sources
- Korea Times (Yonhap), Arrivals estimated to have set annual record early
- Korea Herald, Korea sets new record for foreign tourist arrivals
- Korea.net, International visitors smash annual mark early
- The Star (Korea Herald/ANN), South Korea sets new tourist record
- The Nation, Thailand nine-month arrivals
- Viet Nam News, nine-month arrivals
