South Korea records 15 million foreign visitors before September ends

South Korea recorded 15.05 million foreign visitors in the first eight months of 2026, up 21.6% year on year, according to government data. August alone produced a record 2.25 million visitors, up 23.3%.

By comparison, Japan recorded 27.63 million arrivals through August, down 2.7% year on year, while Thailand’s arrivals declined 3.1% to 20.94 million during the same period.

B2B takeaway: Korea’s performance illustrates how entertainment, culture, shopping and medical tourism can combine to produce sustained international demand.