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[Yanolja Research Brief] Vol.17 Forecast of Inbound Tourist Arrivals to South Korea in 2026

Korea’s Inbound Tourism Is Growing Faster Than Expected South Korea’s inbound tourism market is gaining momentum faster—and across more markets—than expected at the beginning of the year. Foreign visitor arrivals are now projected to reach approximately 23.57 million in 2026 , up 24.5% from 2025 . That is about 2.31 million visitors above the upper end of the initial forecast released in January . What is driving this stronger outlook? The answer goes beyond China. Rising demand from Japan, Taiwan, the U.S., and a wider range of global markets is reshaping Korea’s inbound tourism landscape. Inbound Growth Is Accelerating From January to July 2026, Korea welcomed 12.8 million foreign visitors , a 21.3% increase year-over-year . Monthly arrivals remained consistently strong, reaching 2.09 million in July , the highest monthly level during the January–July period. The growth is also becoming increasingly broad-based. China remained the largest contributor to visitor growth. Japan ...
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[YARI Data Snapshot] Korea’s Top 500 Tourist Destinations: Top 20 Countdown

Which destinations are travelers talking about—and loving most in Korea? 🇰🇷✨ Korea’s Top 500 Tourist Destinations looks beyond visitor numbers. The ranking evaluates destinations using two equally weighted signals from social big data: Buzz Volume, reflecting how widely a place is talked about, and Sentiment, capturing how positively travelers respond to their experiences. Built from a near-census of tourism resources across 229 local governments nationwide, the list is designed to highlight not only Korea’s best-known attractions, but also destinations that may be highly loved even if they receive less attention. Watch the countdown to see which destinations made the Top 20. Did your favorite place make the list? 👀 🔎 Explore the full Korea’s Top 500 ranking:  Korea’s Top 500 Tourist Destinations 📘 Read the full report for the methodology, findings, and insights:  [Yanolja Research Insights Vol.34] Korea’s Top 500 Tourist Destinations
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[YARI Data Snapshot] A Look at Consumer Price Trends in South Korea

South Korea's August CIP Rises 3.1% Year on Year South Korea’s Consumer Price Index reached 120.05 in August 2026, up 3.1% from a year earlier. So, what does that actually tell us? 📊 With 2020 set at 100, a CPI of 120.05 means the overall price level for the goods and services included in the index is now about 20% higher than in 2020. The 3.1% year-on-year increase doesn’t mean every item became 3.1% more expensive. It reflects the average change across a broad basket of goods and services purchased by households — offering a snapshot of how consumer prices have changed over the past year. For more tourism-related data and longer-term trends, visit the Yanolja Research Data Lab. Yanolja Research Datalab Tourism Dashboard
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[YARI Data Snapshot] South Korea's Tourism Balance Back in the RED

South Korea’s Tourism Balance Flips Back into the Red🔻 South Korea’s tourism balance saw a strong recovery in H1 2026, driven by record-high inbound arrivals and high-value drivers like medical tourism. However, after a four-month positive streak from March to June, the balance slipped back into a deficit of -$0.05B in July. 📄 Read the Full H1 Analysis For an in-depth breakdown of inbound growth, spending patterns, and market recovery in the first half of the year, check out Yanolja Research Brief Vol.14: Vol.14 Analysis of Korea's Inbound and Outbound Tourism Performance for H1 2026 🔍 Stay Ahead with Real-Time Data Access the latest travel statistics and monthly data updates on Yanolja DataLab: Datalab Tourism Dashboard
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[YARI Data Snapshot] Taxi Fare for a 10km Trip by City

How affordable is it to get around Seoul by taxi? 🚕 A 10 km taxi ride in Seoul costs just $8.65—about one-quarter of the fare in Tokyo ($34.65) and far below London ($39.03) and Berlin ($36.53). Affordable mobility is an important part of a destination’s tourism price competitiveness. Lower transportation costs reduce the cost burden of exploring a city and allow travelers to move more freely between attractions, restaurants, shopping areas, and local neighborhoods. Seoul’s advantage extends beyond taxis. Together with affordable public transportation, Korea offers globally competitive urban mobility costs, strengthening its overall value for international travelers. Want to know more about Korea’s tourism price competitiveness? [Yanolja Research Insights Vol.40] Analysis of Price Competitiveness of Korean Tourist Cities: An International Comparison
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[YARI Data Snapshot] Korea’s Medical Tourism Market Is Taking Off

Foreign medical spending in South Korea is rising at an unprecedented pace. In H1 2026, medical expenditure by foreign visitors reached KRW 1.19 trillion—6.6 times the level recorded in H1 2019 and up 59.1% year-over-year. With longer stays and higher spending per visitor, medical tourism is emerging as a key driver of high-value tourism in Korea and contributing to higher per capita tourism spending. Want to know more about Korea’s inbound and outbound tourism trends in H1 2026? Read Yanolja Research BRIEF Vol.14 for the full analysis. [Yanolja Research Brief Vol.14] Analysis of Korea's Inbound and Outbound Tourism Performance for H1 2026
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[Yanolja Research Brief] Vol.16 The Role of Daegu Airport in Inbound Tourism: Dual-Gateway Strategy for the Gyeongsang Region

Could Daegu Airport Become a Second Gateway to the Gyeongsang Region? Regional airports can do more than connect travelers to a single city. They can also serve as gateways to wider tourism regions. Daegu Airport is a good example. While its core role is to provide international access to Daegu and Gyeongbuk, foreign visitor movements suggest that its tourism reach may extend much further—particularly toward Busan. This raises an important question: Could Daegu and Busan function not as separate tourism markets, but as part of one connected Gyeongsang travel region? A Strong Tourism Corridor Already Connects Daegu and Busan One of the most striking patterns is what foreign visitors do after visiting Daegu. Among movements from Daegu to the major cities included in the analysis: 62.4% were directed toward Busan Gyeongju followed at 15.1% Ulsan accounted for 13.0% Pohang and Andong represented smaller shares In fact, the share moving toward Busan was larger than the co...
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