International tourism, number of departures in South Korea
South Korea: International tourism, number of departures was 4.28 million in 2020. ◆ Volatile
International tourism, number of departures in South Korea, 1995–2020
Source: Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 4.28 million for international tourism, number of departures in 2020.
The figure is down 85.1% on the previous year and down 65.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international tourism, number of departures in South Korea peaked at 28.71 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 3.07 million, in 1998.
That places South Korea 32nd out of 117 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
International tourism, number of departures in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 3.82 million | — |
| 1996 | 4.65 million | +21.7% |
| 1997 | 4.54 million | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 3.07 million | -32.5% |
| 1999 | 4.34 million | +41.6% |
| 2000 | 5.51 million | +26.9% |
| 2001 | 6.08 million | +10.5% |
| 2002 | 7.12 million | +17.1% |
| 2003 | 7.09 million | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 8.83 million | +24.6% |
| 2005 | 10.08 million | +14.2% |
| 2006 | 11.61 million | +15.2% |
| 2007 | 13.32 million | +14.8% |
| 2008 | 12.00 million | -10.0% |
| 2009 | 9.49 million | -20.9% |
| 2010 | 12.49 million | +31.5% |
| 2011 | 12.69 million | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 13.74 million | +8.2% |
| 2013 | 14.85 million | +8.1% |
| 2014 | 16.08 million | +8.3% |
| 2015 | 19.31 million | +20.1% |
| 2016 | 22.38 million | +15.9% |
| 2017 | 26.50 million | +18.4% |
| 2018 | 28.70 million | +8.3% |
| 2019 | 28.71 million | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 4.28 million | -85.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 4.28 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.67 million, 1.6× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 4.28 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 707,000, 6.0× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where International tourism, number of departures in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -85.1% | 28.71 million | 4.28 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.08 million | 3.07 million | 4.65 million | 5 |
| 2000s | 9.11 million | 5.51 million | 13.32 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.54 million | 12.49 million | 28.71 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.28 million | 4.28 million | 4.28 million | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More private sector data for South Korea
- Merchandise trade 71.6% (2025)
- Food imports 6.5% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 62.1% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 631.89 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 183.44 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 1.7% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 88.0% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 709.33 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 149.31 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 13,724 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is international tourism, number of departures in South Korea?
- International tourism, number of departures in South Korea was 4.28 million in 2020, according to Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism.
- What is the highest international tourism, number of departures recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 28.71 million in 2019.
- What is the lowest international tourism, number of departures recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.07 million in 1998.
- How does South Korea rank for international tourism, number of departures?
- South Korea ranks 32nd out of 117 countries with data for 2020.
- Is international tourism, number of departures rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 65.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism, published as part of International tourism, number of departures. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
International outbound tourists are the number of departures that people make from their country of usual residence to any other country for any purpose other than a remunerated activity in the country visited. The data on outbound tourists refer to the number of departures, not to the number of people traveling. Thus a person who makes several trips from a country during a given period is counted each time as a new departure.