According to an analysis by Singapore-based online travel agency Trip.com, searches for fine dining restaurants in Seoul are on the rise.
The biggest increase came from Singapore at 22.2 percent from a year ago, followed by Japan at 21.7 percent, Thailand at 17.9 percent and Hong Kong at 15.7 percent. Among South Korean users, the increase was 16.8 percent.
The agency attributed the increase to the popularity of South Korean dramas and cooking-themed reality shows.
Restaurants run by chefs who appeared on the latest season of Netflix's hit cooking competition show "Culinary Class Wars" such as Eatanic Garden, Mosu Seoul and Swaaniye, all Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants, have placed highly on Trip.com's rankings, with booking inquiries surging.
The agency said nearly half of its users cited tasting authentic local food as one of the key factors in choosing a travel destination, and food-related bookings rose 43 percent from a year earlier.
"Trips where restaurants themselves become the destination will shape Seoul's tourism competitiveness," said Hong Jong-min, head of Trip.com's Seoul office.
Seoul's reputation as a fine-dining destination has been growing, as Trip.com's latest list released last year featured 17 South Korean restaurants among top venues across 68 countries.
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