Seoul Attracts Over 1.5 Million Foreign Tourists in April as Spending Surges Past $760 Million
June 2026 | By Azad News
South Korea’s capital Seoul recorded a strong surge in international tourism in April, with more than 1.5 million foreign visitors arriving in the city and tourist spending exceeding 1.15 trillion won (approximately $762 million), according to official data released by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
The figures highlight a continued recovery and expansion of the tourism sector, surpassing pre-pandemic levels in both visitor numbers and overall spending.
Foreign arrivals increased by 18.8% compared to the same month last year, when approximately 1.3 million visitors were recorded. From January to April, total arrivals reached 5.2 million, marking a 21.4% year-on-year increase.
According to data from the Korea Tourism Organisation, card spending by international tourists in Seoul reached 1.153 trillion won in April, reflecting a 50.5% increase compared to the previous year.
Officials said the data suggests a shift toward higher-value tourism experiences, including medical services, beauty treatments, dining, and premium shopping.
Shopping remained the largest category, accounting for 45.4% of total spending, followed by medical and wellness services at 24.8%, food and beverage at 13.1%, and accommodation at 11%.
Spending at large shopping malls rose sharply to 245.2 billion won, while medical tourism increased by 59.2% and beauty-related expenditures also showed significant growth.
By district, Gangnam-gu accounted for the highest share of tourist spending, followed by Jung-gu, Mapo-gu, Seocho-gu, and Jongno-gu, reflecting strong activity in both luxury and traditional tourism hubs.
Popular areas such as Myeong-dong, Dongdaemun, Apgujeong, Cheongdam, and the COEX district continued to attract high levels of international consumer activity.
Chinese tourists remained the largest group of visitors in April with 440,000 arrivals, followed by Japan, Taiwan, the United States, and the Philippines.
Conclusion
Seoul’s tourism industry continues to show strong post-pandemic momentum, driven by rising international arrivals and increased spending across both luxury and service sectors.
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