One Out of Four Japanese Travelers Chooses Korea; July Surge Driven by Chinese Tourists

12.8 Million Inbound Visitors from January to July, Up 21.3% Year-on-Year
Record 28% of Japanese Outbound Travelers Choose Korea
July Sees Highest Monthly Total at 2.09 Million; Chinese Arrivals Jump from 650,000 to 780,000 in One Month

From January to July this year, the number of foreign tourists visiting Korea surpassed 12.8 million. In Japan, more than one out of every four outbound travelers chose Korea, marking an all-time high proportion for Korean tourism, while the increase in inbound tourists in July was primarily driven by Chinese visitors.

Foreign tourists, including Chinese and Japanese visitors, are strolling the streets of Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jin-Hyung Kang aymsdream@

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization, 12,803,042 foreigners visited Korea from January to July this year, a 21.3% increase from the 10,559,166 recorded in the same period last year. Month by month, the figures reached 1.27 million in January, 1.43 million in February, then rose to 2.05 million in March, followed by 2.03 million in April, 1.95 million in May, and 1.99 million in June. In July, the number soared back above 2 million to 2.09 million, recording the highest monthly figure this year.

Looking at cumulative figures, the Japanese market stands out. The number of Japanese travelers heading abroad from January to July was 8,135,903, up just 4.1% from the same period last year, but among them, 2,280,159 visited Korea, showing an 18.8% increase. As a result, the proportion of Japanese outbound travelers visiting Korea rose 3.47 percentage points, from 24.56% last year to 28.03% this year.

Korea’s share among Japanese travelers’ overseas destinations was overwhelming. The United States accounted for 13.14%, Taiwan for 9.35%, Thailand for 6.84%, and Vietnam for 6.12%, highlighting Korea’s significant lead. This means that the increase in travel to Korea far outpaced the recovery in Japanese outbound tourism overall.

However, in terms of expanding the inbound travel market in July, China played a more decisive role than Japan. The number of Chinese visitors to Korea jumped by 130,000, or about 20%, from 650,000 in June to 780,000 in July. Over the same period, the number of visitors from Taiwan also rose from 220,000 to 260,000.

In contrast, the number of Japanese visitors to Korea fell from 350,000 in June to 330,000 in July, and the figure for the Americas also decreased from 220,000 to 200,000. The overall increase of 100,000 in inbound tourists from 1.99 million in June to 2.09 million in July was largely driven by the surge in the Chinese market.

Among Japanese overseas travelers from January to July this year, the proportion visiting Korea was the highest at 28.0%. The total number of visitors to Korea in July was 2.09 million, marking the highest monthly figure this year, and the number of Chinese visitors increased from 650,000 in June to 780,000 in July. Source: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism · Korea Tourism Organization

On a cumulative basis, China remains the largest inbound market. Chinese tourists numbered 3,988,430 from January to July, a 27.5% increase year-on-year. This was followed by Japan with 2.28 million, Taiwan with 1,410,978 (up 32.9%), and the Americas with 1,274,577 (up 12.9%). Notably, the increase in Chinese visitors—about 860,000 more than last year—accounted for the largest share of the overall net growth of inbound tourists.

The Ministry analyzed that factors such as airline seat supply, exchange rates, and demand for Korean culture (K-culture) worked together in the Japanese market. The number of weekly seats on Korea-Japan routes increased by 2.4% from 340,441 in December last year to 348,751 in July this year. While the number of routes dropped from 61 to 57, the number of weekly flights rose from 1,647 to 1,677.

Arrivals of Japanese tourists through regional airports also grew rapidly. From January to July, 269,752 Japanese tourists entered Korea via Gimhae Airport, a 52% increase year-on-year; arrivals at Jeju Airport increased by 60%, and at Cheongju Airport by 93%.

Along with the rise in inbound tourists, foreign visitor spending also expanded. Overseas card spending by foreigners from January to July this year was 12 trillion KRW 859 million, a 48.3% increase from the same period last year.

Kang Jeongwon, policy chief of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, "With the increase in airline seat supply, the popularity of K-culture, and exchange rate fluctuations, the number of Japanese tourists coming to Korea is rising, invigorating the inbound tourism market. We will continue to sustain this growth through tailored responses aligned with market conditions."

The Ministry plans to discuss ways to expand tourism exchanges and balanced development at the Korea-Japan tourism authorities’ meeting to be held next month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.