Foreign spending in Seoul jumps 60% as experience tourism grows

Foreign tourists walk through Myeong-dong in central Seoul on Sept. 21, 2026, during the 2026 Seoul Welcome Week. AJP Yoo Na-hyun

SEOUL, October 06 (AJP) - Foreign tourists’ credit-card spending in Seoul jumped 60 percent against a 22 percent gain in visitor numbers in the first eight months of the year as K-beauty and experience-based tourism gained traction, the city government said Tuesday.

Spending rose 59.9 percent to 7.78 trillion won from 4.87 trillion won a year earlier, while the estimated number of foreign visitors increased 21.6 percent to 11.56 million.

Tourist spending thus grew at about 2.8 times the pace of visitor numbers. The eight-month total was already equivalent to about 98 percent of the 7.94 trillion won spent throughout 2025.

August alone drew a record 1.72 million foreign visitors to the capital, up 23.3 percent from a year earlier. Their card spending climbed 58.1 percent to 1.03 trillion won, exceeding 1 trillion won for a fifth consecutive month.

Shopping accounted for 46.6 percent of foreign card spending from January through August, followed by medical and wellness services at 23.8 percent, food and beverages at 13.2 percent and accommodation at 10.4 percent.

Spending at major shopping malls jumped 77.5 percent, while medical tourism spending rose 64.2 percent and restaurant spending increased 59.5 percent. 

 

Foreign visitors look up at Jongmyo Shrine's main hall in Seoul, July 16, 2026, as the UNESCO World Heritage site draws record numbers of overseas tourists. AJP Han Jun-gu

 

The gains extended beyond Seoul’s traditional tourist districts. Foreign card spending more than doubled in Seongsu and rose 74.7 percent in Myeong-dong. Spending around Dosan Park surged 240.1 percent, while Gwangjang Market recorded a 127.4 percent increase. 

Chinese visitors were the largest group in August at 636,000, followed by 322,000 from Japan and 188,000 from Taiwan. The three markets accounted for 66.4 percent of foreign visitors to Seoul that month. 

Seoul plans to expand nighttime tourism around Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Namsan, Gwanghwamun and the Han River to encourage longer stays and spread tourist spending to more local commercial districts.

AJP Takeaways

- Foreign tourist card spending in Seoul jumped 59.9% to 7.78 trillion won through August.

- Visitor numbers rose a much smaller 21.6% to an estimated 11.56 million.

- Eight-month spending already equaled about 98% of the entire 2025 total.