South Korea Hits Record 2.06M Tourists in March

South Korea saw a surge in tourism this spring, welcoming a record 2.06 million foreign visitors in March, government data revealed Thursday. The influx, the highest monthly total on record, was driven largely by arrivals from China and boosted by the return of K-pop group BTS after a two-year hiatus for mandatory military service.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism reported that March's figure contributed to a first-quarter total of 4.76 million visitors, up 23 percent from the previous year and also a record for the period. Officials credited the growth to the global appeal of Korean culture, even amid regional instability in the Middle East. Chinese tourists led the way with 1.45 million arrivals, a 29 percent increase year over year. Japan followed with 940,915 visitors, up 20.2 percent, while Taiwan recorded the sharpest rise at 37.7 percent, reaching 544,503. Long-haul markets also grew, with 690,000 visitors from the United States and Europe, a 17.1 percent jump.

Travel patterns showed broader distribution across the country. Arrivals at regional airports rose 49.7 percent, and the proportion of tourists venturing beyond Seoul and its surrounding areas increased...