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South Korea Sees 23% Rise in Foreign Visitors, Boosted by BTS

4/16/2026

27 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

In March 2026, South Korea welcomed 2.06 million foreign visitors, driven by the return of the K-pop group BTS.
The first quarter reached 4.76 million arrivals, up 23% from the previous year.
Chinese tourists totaled 1.45 million, a 29% rise, while Japanese and Taiwanese visitors also increased.
Foreign credit card spending reached 3.21 trillion won, with BTS concert attendees contributing 55.5 billion won.

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Story summary

In March 2026, South Korea welcomed 2.06 million foreign visitors, driven by the return of the K-pop group BTS.
The first quarter reached 4.76 million arrivals, up 23% from the previous year.
Chinese tourists totaled 1.45 million, a 29% rise, while Japanese and Taiwanese visitors also increased.
Foreign credit card spending reached 3.21 trillion won, with BTS concert attendees contributing 55.5 billion won.