Out of the 11.03 million foreign visitors to South Korea last year, 35.6% or 3.93 million were 30 years old or younger. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Mar. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – A recent analysis has revealed that more than one-third of the foreign tourists visiting South Korea last year were young individuals under the age of 30, a demographic surge attributed to the global popularity of K-pop, K-food, and K-beauty.
The trend is not limited to Asian countries such as Japan, China, and Southeast Asia but extends across the globe to nations like France, the U.K., Mexico, and Australia, indicating a youthful shift in the tourist demographic.
According to data from the Korea Tourism Data Lab, out of the 11.03 million foreign visitors to South Korea last year, 35.6% or 3.93 million were 30 years old or younger.
The 21 to 30 age group constituted the largest share with 2.79 million visitors, accounting for 25.3% of the total, while those 20 and younger made up 10.3% with 1.14 million visitors.
The breakdown of tourists also includes other age groups and flight crew members who contributed to the overall numbers.
The proportion of tourists under 30 has shown a significant increase over the past decade.
In 2013, this demographic represented only 27.6% of all foreign tourists, marking an 8.1 percentage point growth over ten years.
This upward trend persisted through the years, briefly interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but resumed its ascent in 2022, eventually surpassing 35% in the last year.
The surge is particularly notable among Japanese tourists, with those under 30 comprising 42.3% of all Japanese visitors last year, a substantial increase from a decade ago.
European and American tourists have also contributed to this youthful trend, with significant increases in the under-30 demographic from countries like France, the U.K., Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Similar growth patterns were observed among tourists from China, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, showcasing a widespread youthful interest in visiting South Korea.
European and American tourists have also contributed to this youthful trend, with significant increases in the under-30 demographic from countries like France, the U.K., Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy.
Even in the Americas and Oceania, nations such as Mexico, the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand saw a notable rise in younger visitors.
Industry insiders attribute this trend primarily to the influence of the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, which encompasses K-pop, represented by groups like BTS and Blackpink, as well as Korean movies, dramas, beauty products, and cuisine.
These cultural exports have garnered a global following, enticing younger audiences to explore Korea firsthand.
“Rather than conventional tourism, an increasing number of young foreigners are coming to Korea to learn the dances and songs of Korean idols they’ve discovered on YouTube, or to taste the dishes featured in Korean dramas and movies like ‘Parasite’ and ‘Squid Game’,” explained a tourism industry official, highlighting the unique draw of Korean culture on the international stage.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
