Korea's Record 2026 Arrivals: What Group Agents Should Do

On 28 September 2026 Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism published its arrival figures for January to August. Our Korea team reads the numbers in its briefing on the record arrivals and group space. This note is for agents with Korea groups planned for late 2026 and early 2027.

What Did the Ministry Report?

• January to August. 15,048,435 foreign arrivals, up 21.6% from 12,379,498 a year earlier.
• August. About 2.25 million arrivals, up 23.3%. The ministry says the monthly and cumulative figures are the highest in 30 years.
• Regional gateways. 27.8% of arrivals entered through regional airports and seaports.
• Spending. Foreign card spending on tourism reached KRW 14.018 trillion, up 48.5%.

Why Is the Total Not a Tour Group Count?

• It counts every foreign entry. Workers and residents are in it as well as tourists.
• It is national. It says nothing about one city, one hotel or one week.
• It shows a direction, not a forecast. A busier year is a reason to confirm earlier, not proof that a given date is full.

What Changes for a Group Programme?

• October is the peak. The ministry calls October, the month of its Travel Month campaign, the busiest period for international arrivals.
• Confirm the parts together. Rooms, guides in the group's language and coaches are worth holding at the same time.
• Consider a regional arrival. With more than a quarter of arrivals already entering outside the Seoul area, a regional airport is a practical start for many routes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many foreign visitors came to Korea from January to August 2026?

15,048,435, up 21.6% from 12,379,498 a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Is the 15 million figure a count of tourists?

No. It includes workers and residents as well as tourists, so it is not a count of leisure visitors or tour groups.

Which month does the ministry expect to be busiest?

October. The ministry says it is the busiest period for international arrivals, and it is also the month of its Travel Month campaign.

What should agents do differently for Korea groups?

Confirm hotel rooms, guides and coaches as soon as the dates are firm. Explera DMC confirms them together and says which parts are still on request.

Source: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 28 September 2026.

Where Explera Fits

Our Korea team plans group programmes with hotels, coaches, guides and venues confirmed together, from Seoul or from a regional gateway.

Write to b2b@explera.kr or message +66 93 656 8090 on WhatsApp. Explera DMC is IATA TIDS-registered (96215733) and an ASTA member (900408341); our KTO and KATA registrations are in application.