1.36 Million Foreign Tourists Visited Seoul in July... All-Time High

K-Content and Smart Tourism Drive K-Pop Demon Hunters Craze
8.28 Million Foreign Tourists Visited Seoul from January to July
Seoul Named Top City for Millennials & Gen Z and Best Destination for Solo Travelers

In July, the number of foreign tourists visiting Seoul reached 1.36 million, marking an all-time high. This figure is 18.2% higher than in the same month of 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. By country, Chinese tourists accounted for the largest share, with 470,000 visitors.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on September 2, the number of foreign tourists who visited Seoul in July increased by 23.1% compared to the same month last year (1.1 million), reaching 1.36 million. From January to July this year, a total of 8.28 million foreign tourists visited Seoul, up 15.9% from the same period last year, setting a new record for the period.

In July, the number of foreign tourists visiting Seoul reached 1.36 million, marking an all-time high. Photo shows the streets of Myeongdong, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The Seoul Metropolitan Government believes that the recent increase in global Millennials & Gen Z tourists is influenced by a variety of experiential content they prefer, a safe and smart digital-centric transportation and accommodation infrastructure, and the unique appeal of a city where tradition and modernity coexist. In particular, the recent global craze for K-Pop Demon Hunters has further fueled the influx of multinational tourists not only from Northeast Asia, but also from Southeast Asia, the United States, and Europe.

Looking at the cumulative number of foreign tourists from January to July, compared to the same period in 2019, the numbers increased by 64.4% from Singapore, 44.0% from Taiwan, 40.6% from the United States, and 34.3% from Indonesia. The Seoul Metropolitan Government interpreted this as a result of strategies implemented after announcing the "3-3-7-7 Seoul Tourism Future Vision" in September 2023, which reflected global travel trends such as "solo travel" and "No-Normal" experiences that offer fresh ways to experience local life. The "3-3-7-7 Future Vision" aims to make Seoul a high-quality tourist city where visitors want to stay longer and return, with goals of attracting 30 million foreign tourists, achieving 3 million won in per capita spending, an average stay of 7 days, and a revisit rate of 70%.

Seoul has also been ranked No. 1 for four consecutive years as "the most beloved city among Millennials & Gen Z" by Trazy Travel, No. 1 "best city for solo travel" by TripAdvisor, and No. 1 "best Asian leisure destination" by Global Traveler. Koo Jongwon, Director-General of Tourism and Sports at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, said, "The steady increase in foreign tourists visiting Seoul proves that the city’s unique blend of flavors, style, and excitement offers a competitive tourism experience in the global market. We will continue to develop differentiated tourism content and innovative services to achieve the goal of 30 million foreign tourists as soon as possible, making Seoul the world’s top tourist city."