Korea welcomes record 15.05 million visitors through August

South Korea's culture ministry said Monday that the country received 15.05 million foreign visitors in the first eight months of 2026, up 21.6 percent from 12.38 million a year earlier, as eased entry rules and targeted overseas marketing drew record numbers.

August alone drew 2.25 million arrivals, a rise of 23.3 percent from the same month last year and the highest monthly figure ever recorded. The cumulative tally also set a record, and the 15 million mark was passed earlier in the year than in 2025, when it came in mid-October.

Spending followed the visitors. Foreign tourists ran up 14 trillion won ($10.3 billion) on their cards in the first eight months, up 48.5 percent from 9.44 trillion won ($6.94 billion) a year earlier, also a record.

Growth was broad-based, with gains in every major market. Taiwan posted the sharpest rise among Chinese-speaking markets, up 32.2 percent to 1.66 million arrivals, while mainland China, the largest single source, grew 29 percent to 4.82 million. Japanese arrivals rose 17.5 percent to 2.7 million. Southeast Asia produced the strongest new momentum, with Indonesian visitors up 22.5 percent to 295,279, and the Philippines at 454,007, up 16.1 percent. Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia also drew more visitors than a year earlier.

The ministry credited eased entry rules for Southeast Asian travellers. Working with the justice ministry, it relaxed multiple-entry visa requirements for 11 countries including the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia from March 30, and began a limited visa-free pilot for Indonesian tour groups on May 28. The Korea Tourism Organization promoted the changes through local events and social media, and set up a support center in New Delhi and simplified document requirements in Manila.

Arrivals through regional airports and seaports reached 27.8 percent of the total this year through August, with 2.83 million visitors entering through provincial airports, up 38.2 percent, and 1.36 million through provincial ports, up 10.6 percent.

Overseas promotion leaned on Korean pop culture. A "K-Tourism Roadshow" in central Singapore drew 120,000 visitors over three days, and similar large-scale events were held in Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia. The ministry and the tourism organization enlisted local influencers with more than a million followers, as well as Korea supporters, to drive social media traffic. Airlines and online travel agencies also ran joint ticket promotions after higher fuel surcharges raised the cost of travel from March.

"Arrivals are diversifying thanks to improved entry convenience and tailored marketing," said Kang Jung-won, director-general of the culture ministry's tourism policy bureau. "October, the month of travel, is also the period when foreign visitors come most, so the ministry will carefully manage entry procedures such as visa issuance and airport and port clearance, and continue to strengthen marketing linked to Korean culture to carry a high level of travel demand into the fourth quarter."