International tourism, receipts for travel items (current US$) in South Korea
South Korea: International tourism, receipts for travel items (current US$) was 10.53 billion current US$ in 2020. ▲ Rising
International tourism, receipts for travel items in South Korea, 1995–2020
Source: Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for international tourism, receipts for travel items in South Korea is 10.53 billion current US$, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 49.5% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, international tourism, receipts for travel items in South Korea peaked at 20.87 billion current US$ in 2019 and was at its lowest, 4.73 billion current US$, in 1997.
South Korea ranks 15th of 191 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
International tourism, receipts for travel items (current US$) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 5.15 billion current US$ | — |
| 1996 | 4.88 billion current US$ | -5.2% |
| 1997 | 4.73 billion current US$ | -3.1% |
| 1998 | 6.91 billion current US$ | +46.0% |
| 1999 | 6.84 billion current US$ | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 6.83 billion current US$ | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 6.38 billion current US$ | -6.6% |
| 2002 | 5.93 billion current US$ | -7.1% |
| 2003 | 5.36 billion current US$ | -9.7% |
| 2004 | 6.07 billion current US$ | +13.3% |
| 2005 | 5.80 billion current US$ | -4.4% |
| 2006 | 5.72 billion current US$ | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 6.10 billion current US$ | +6.8% |
| 2008 | 9.73 billion current US$ | +59.5% |
| 2009 | 9.77 billion current US$ | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 10.26 billion current US$ | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 12.36 billion current US$ | +20.5% |
| 2012 | 13.27 billion current US$ | +7.4% |
| 2013 | 14.39 billion current US$ | +8.4% |
| 2014 | 17.46 billion current US$ | +21.3% |
| 2015 | 14.80 billion current US$ | -15.2% |
| 2016 | 16.89 billion current US$ | +14.1% |
| 2017 | 13.37 billion current US$ | -20.8% |
| 2018 | 18.57 billion current US$ | +38.9% |
| 2019 | 20.87 billion current US$ | +12.4% |
| 2020 | 10.53 billion current US$ | -49.5% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 10.53 billion current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.53 billion current US$, 6.9× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 10.53 billion current US$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 186.00 million current US$, 56.6× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.70 billion current US$ | 4.73 billion current US$ | 6.91 billion current US$ | 5 |
| 2000s | 6.77 billion current US$ | 5.36 billion current US$ | 9.77 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.22 billion current US$ | 10.26 billion current US$ | 20.87 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.53 billion current US$ | 10.53 billion current US$ | 10.53 billion current US$ | 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, receipts for travel items in South Korea?
- International tourism, receipts for travel items in South Korea was 10.53 billion current US$ in 2020, according to Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, UN Tourism.
- What is the highest international tourism, receipts for travel items recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 20.87 billion current US$ in 2019.
- What is the lowest international tourism, receipts for travel items recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.73 billion current US$ in 1997.
- How does South Korea rank for international tourism, receipts for travel items?
- South Korea ranks 15th out of 191 countries with data for 2020.
- Is international tourism, receipts for travel items rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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, receipts for travel items (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
International tourism receipts for travel items are expenditures by international inbound visitors in the reporting economy. The goods and services are purchased by, or on behalf of, the traveler or provided, without a quid pro quo, for the traveler to use or give away. These receipts should include any other prepayment made for goods or services received in the destination country. They also may include receipts from same-day visitors, except in cases where these are so important as to justify a separate classification. Excluded is the international carriage of travelers, which is covered in passenger travel items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.