Number of visitors to South Korea 2023, by age group
In 2023, around 2.8 million visitors to South Korea were aged between 21 and 30 years old. That year, the country recorded about 11 million inbound visitors. While this figure is still a far cry from pre-COVID-19 times, there has been some recovery.
What draws tourists to South Korea?
The most common reason for tourists to travel to South Korea in 2022 was the food and shopping opportunities. A 2022 worldwide survey found that 49 percent of respondents considered Korean food to be very popular in their countries, with exports increasing in recent years. Korean fried chicken was the most popular Korean food abroad, even before Kimchi.
The Hallyu-effect
As of 2022, around 13 percent of respondents stated that they visited South Korea for K-pop and other "hallyu" experiences. The share of respondents visiting for that reason was especially high for younger tourists, reaching over 21 percent for respondents aged between 15 and 20 years old. "Hallyu", which describes the phenomenon of the globally rising popularity of South Korean pop culture, has been an important aspect of the marketing strategies for the country’s tourism industry. Around 88.3 percent of Hallyu tourists were planning to return within the following three years.
What draws tourists to South Korea?
The most common reason for tourists to travel to South Korea in 2022 was the food and shopping opportunities. A 2022 worldwide survey found that 49 percent of respondents considered Korean food to be very popular in their countries, with exports increasing in recent years. Korean fried chicken was the most popular Korean food abroad, even before Kimchi.
The Hallyu-effect
As of 2022, around 13 percent of respondents stated that they visited South Korea for K-pop and other "hallyu" experiences. The share of respondents visiting for that reason was especially high for younger tourists, reaching over 21 percent for respondents aged between 15 and 20 years old. "Hallyu", which describes the phenomenon of the globally rising popularity of South Korean pop culture, has been an important aspect of the marketing strategies for the country’s tourism industry. Around 88.3 percent of Hallyu tourists were planning to return within the following three years.
