The number of foreign visitors to South Korea reached 1.63 million in May 2025, reflecting a significant recovery in the country’s tourism sector. According to data released by the Korea Tourism Organisation on Monday, this represents a 14.9 percent increase compared to the same month in 2024 and exceeds pre-pandemic levels, reaching 109.7 percent of the figures recorded in May 2019. The latest statistics highlight the steady resurgence of international travel to South Korea following years of restrictions and downturns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among all foreign visitors in May, Chinese tourists made up the largest portion with 484,000 arrivals. Although this figure represents 96.8 percent of the May 2019 level, it signals a near-complete recovery in travel from China, which has historically been South Korea’s biggest source of foreign tourists. Japanese visitors followed closely, with 292,000 arrivals, showing a modest 1.9 percent increase from pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, the number of tourists from Taiwan, the United States, and the Philippines saw notable growth compared to May 2019.
Taiwanese arrivals surged by 47.6 percent to 150,000, American tourists increased by 38.1 percent to 132,000, and Filipino visitors rose by 19.8 percent to 61,000. In cumulative terms, the total number of foreign tourists visiting South Korea from January to May 2025 reached 7.21 million. This marks a 14.7 percent increase from the same period last year and brings the figure to 103.5 percent of the corresponding pre-pandemic level recorded in 2019.
Chinese and Japanese visitors lead growth in South Korean tourism
China contributed the largest share with 2.05 million visitors during the first five months of the year. Japan followed with 1.33 million, Taiwan with 700,000, and the United States with 560,000. The figures underscore the sustained interest in South Korea as a travel destination, supported by improved air connectivity, promotional efforts by tourism authorities, and growing demand for leisure and business travel.
The data also suggests that South Korea’s tourism sector has largely regained its pre-pandemic momentum, with further growth expected during the upcoming summer season. Outbound travel by South Korean nationals also showed a steady recovery. A total of 2.39 million South Koreans travelled abroad in May, representing a 5.4 percent increase from May 2024 and reaching 99.6 percent of the level seen in the same month of 2019. From January to May this year, outbound travel totaled 12.34 million, amounting to 98.6 percent of the corresponding pre-pandemic figure. – By MENA Newswire News Desk.