South Korea welcomed 17.11 million foreign visitors in the first nine months of 2026, up 21.5 percent from a year earlier and nearing the 18.94 million recorded throughout 2025.
Tourism-related card spending grew even faster, surging 47.7 percent to 15.94 trillion won ($11.9 billion) over the same period, according to government data.
Joonha Yoo
Joonha Yoo is a bilingual journalist at AJU Press (AJP), covering music, culture, entertainment and Korea’s automotive industry.
Raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, he often writes from the scene, bringing firsthand detail to stories ranging
from BTS comeback concerts to unique cultural events that catch the world's eye.
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