"Koreans Spend 1 Million Won Each and Come Back"... 'They Said They Were Going for Value for Money,' but Open Their Wallets Wide in Japan

Per-person spending rose 13.4% in the third quarter
"Exchange rates aren't the only factor...repeat purchases are increasing"

Spending by South Korean tourists visiting Japan has reportedly surged. According to an analysis by Japanese tourism authorities for the third quarter of this year, spending by South Korean travelers in Japan jumped nearly 50%, while per-person spending also rose sharply.

On October 27 (local time), Japanese tourism authorities, including the Japan Tourism Agency and the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), said South Korean tourists who visited Japan from July to September this year spent a total of 293.8 billion yen (approximately 2.4733 trillion won). That was a 45.8% increase from the same period last year.

Travelers wait to check in for departure at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport on the 12th. Yonhap News Agency.

Not only did the number of tourists increase, but spending per tourist also rose. Per-person spending reached 113,959 yen (approximately 960,000 won), up 13.4% over the same period.

JNTO figures show that 8,262,700 South Koreans visited Japan from January to September this year, a 21.6% increase from the same period last year. The cumulative total for the first nine months was a record high.

Last year, 9,459,600 South Koreans visited Japan, setting a new annual record and accounting for 22.2% of all foreign tourists. South Korean tourists have emerged as the biggest spenders in Japan's tourism industry.

In a survey covering the first quarter, per-person travel spending by South Koreans was 104,155 yen (approximately 877,000 won), down 7.8% from the same period a year earlier. It fell a further 2.3% in the second quarter to 99,542 yen (approximately 838,000 won). Spending rebounded sharply in the third quarter.

The yen's recent relative weakness is cited as one factor behind the increase in spending, but tourism authorities say other factors are also at play. Yasunori Taura, head of JNTO's Seoul office, said, "The number of visitors to Japan and their travel spending are influenced not only by exchange rates but also by a combination of factors, including growing interest in travel to Japan, expanded air routes, repeat visits, length of stay, domestic prices in Japan, and the characteristics of travelers. Rather than purchasing particularly rare items, travelers have preferred products or brands that they buy repeatedly whenever they visit Japan."

Shopping patterns also showed a stronger preference for everyday purchases than for local specialties or souvenirs. The most commonly purchased items were sweets (83.4%), followed by alcoholic beverages (37.3%), medicines (37.1%), food and beverages (33.9%), and clothing (28.5%).

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