Number of Foreign Tourists Visiting Korea Surpasses 11 Million

February 12, 2024

According to the Korea Tourism Organization, in 2023, Korea experienced a significant rebound in foreign tourism, surpassing 11 million visitors, equivalent to 63% of pre-COVID levels. This marked a substantial increase of 245% compared to the previous year. In December 2023, foreign visitors exceeded 1 million for the sixth consecutive month. Japan, China, and the United States were the top three countries of origin for tourists, with Japan leading at 2.32 million. Australia had 198,604 tourists visiting Korea in 2023, a 203% increase from the previous year.

This recovery followed a steep decline, with tourist numbers dropping to 970,000 in 2021 before reaching 3.2 million in 2022.