Seoul is booming: 1.36 million tourists in one month thanks to K-Pop!

Seoul is booming: 1.36 million tourists in one month thanks to K-Pop!

Seoul set an impressive visitor record in July 2023 with 1.36 million international guests visiting the city. This corresponds to an increase of 23.1% compared to the previous year. The largest group of these visitors were Chinese, followed by Japanese, Taiwanese and Americans. In the first seven months of 2023, Seoul received a total of 8.28 million international visitors, an increase of about 5.5% compared to the same period before the Covid-19 pandemic. Loud vietnam.vn The city government attributes this increase to a combination of cultural values, digital infrastructure and the increasing distribution of Korean content.

To further promote this positive development, Seoul has set up 30 “Seoul Destinations” with AI-powered information boards that provide multilingual information via QR codes. Popular filming locations from Korean films and series, such as the Museum of Korean Stone Art and the Stone Wall Street of Deoksu Palace, particularly attract many tourists. Another magnet is the Netflix animated series “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” which takes many interested people to sights such as Bukchon Hanok Village and the N Seoul Tower.

Growth through K-Pop and Korean culture

The city government also plans to build the Seoul Arena, which is scheduled to open in 2027. The new K-pop venue will accommodate up to 28,000 spectators and include various commercial facilities. This initiative aims to attract 2.7 million visitors annually and promote the growth of K-pop and Korean pop culture. Local businesses and tourism boards are reporting an increase in visitors and bookings associated with the series. Sales of souvenirs inspired by “Demon Hunters” have also surged.

After the series premiered, social media posts about Naksan Park increased nearly twice as frequently. Spending by foreign tourists on traditional hanbok costumes increased by 30%, while prices for public bathhouse tours increased by 84%. A survey found that 32.1% of international tourists were inspired by Korean pop culture, which also led to the increase in K-pop dance classes.

Recognition in global rankings

Seoul's global success is underpinned by various awards. The city was voted “Favorite Worldwide City” in the 2025 The Trazees Awards by readers of US travel magazine Trazee Travel. This is the fourth consecutive award for the South Korean capital. This year, Seoul took first place, leaving behind Dublin, Hong Kong and London. The Trazees Awards are based on reader votes in various categories including destinations, hotels and tourism.

Seoul has achieved high rankings in global rankings. The city was named “Best City for Solo Travel” by TripAdvisor in 2025 and was named “Best MICE City” for ten years by Global Traveler. According to the Union of International Associations, Seoul ranks first in Asia and third in the world in the number of international conferences hosted.

The mix of tradition and modern life is also evident with the success of Korean culture, especially through series like K-Pop Demon Hunters. Seoul has established itself as a major global MICE destination, which the city government and the Seoul Tourism Organization emphasize. Forecasts for 2023 are for 20.9 million tourists and economic growth of 29.4 trillion won (US$20.25 billion).