Record Increase in International Tourists to South Korea
Seoul, March 20, 2026 – Recent data indicates that South Korea has experienced a remarkable rise in the number of foreign visitors, with an increase of over 32% in March compared to the previous year. This surge is largely attributed to the influx of fans from the globally renowned K-pop group BTS, who are traveling to the country for a highly anticipated concert in Seoul.
According to the immigration office under the Ministry of Justice of Korea, the number of foreigners entering the country between March 1 and March 18 reached an impressive 1,099,700. This figure represents a significant increase of 32.7%, which translates to approximately 271,000 additional visitors compared to the same period last year, when roughly 828,000 foreign nationals arrived.
The considerable growth in tourist numbers coincides with the upcoming BTS concert scheduled for March 21, which is expected to draw even more visitors. Predictions suggest that the overall number of tourists could potentially rise by more than 50% when comparing it to the previous year, especially with the anticipated influx of fans arriving just before the performance on March 19 and 20.
Breaking down the statistics by region, the majority of foreign visitors came from Asia, totaling around 910,000, followed by North America with 92,000, Europe with 71,000, and Oceania with 15,000. This upward trend not only emphasizes the growing popularity of South Korea as a travel destination but also highlights the significant impact of cultural events like BTS concerts on tourism.
As reported by alaan.ma.
