Seoul Welcomes Record 11.56 Million Foreign Visitors Through August
Foreign arrivals in Seoul rose 21.6 percent in the first eight months of 2026, while their credit card spending jumped 59.9 percent to 7.78 trillion won.
Seoul welcomed a record 11.56 million foreign tourists during the first eight months of 2026, marking a 21.6 percent increase from the same period a year earlier, according to data released by the city government on Tuesday.
The increase in visitor numbers was accompanied by a much sharper rise in spending. Foreign tourists used credit cards to spend 7.78 trillion won, or about $5.8 billion, in the capital between January and August. That represented a 59.9 percent increase from the corresponding period of 2025.
The August figures also showed continued momentum in the city’s inbound tourism market. Seoul received 1.72 million foreign visitors during the month, up 23.3 percent from 1.4 million in August last year.
Travelers from China, Japan and Taiwan together made up 66.4 percent of Seoul’s foreign arrivals in August. China was the largest source market, accounting for 636,000 visitors, or 36.9 percent of the monthly total. Japan followed with 322,000 visitors, representing 18.6 percent, while Taiwan contributed 188,000 visitors, or 10.9 percent.
Shopping remained the largest category for foreign visitors’ card expenditures, taking a 46.6 percent share. Medical and wellness services accounted for 23.8 percent, followed by food and beverage purchases at 13.2 percent and accommodation at 10.4 percent.
The spending data indicated especially strong gains in several areas of the city’s visitor economy. Foreign card spending at large shopping malls increased 77.5 percent from a year earlier. Expenditure connected to medical tourism rose 64.2 percent, while spending on dining climbed 59.5 percent.
The results show that growth in the economic contribution from international visitors substantially outpaced the increase in headcount during the period. They also underline the importance of retail and medical services alongside hotels and restaurants in Seoul’s tourism economy.
The concentration of arrivals from three nearby Asian markets remains a defining feature of the capital’s tourism demand. At the same time, the record aggregate visitor count and broad increases across major spending categories indicate that Seoul’s inbound travel recovery is translating into higher activity for businesses serving overseas travelers.