South Korea Achieves Record-Breaking 20 Million Foreign Tourist Arrivals in 2026
South Korea has achieved a significant milestone in its tourism industry, with the cumulative number of foreign tourists visiting the country exceeding 20 million in 2026. This marks the first time in history that South Korea has surpassed the 20 million mark for foreign tourist arrivals in a single year, a feat that comes 14 years after the country first entered the era of 10 million foreign tourists in 2012. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization announced this achievement on November 12. The tourism market in South Korea has experienced rapid growth throughout the year, partly fueled by major events such as BTS comeback performances. By September, the cumulative number of foreign tourists had reached 17.11 million, representing a 21.5% increase from the same period last year. The country surpassed its previous annual record of 18.94 million on October 27, with an average of 65,000 daily arrivals accelerating the timeline for reaching the 20 million goal.
