{
  "id": 10342149,
  "title": "Eased visas, K-culture buzz drive record tourism boom in Korea",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/eased-visas-k-culture-buzz-drive-record-tourism-boom-in-korea-10342149",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T02:42:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/lifestyle/travel-food/20260928/eased-visas-k-culture-buzz-drive-record-tourism-boom-in-korea"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Korea's tourism sector has achieved unprecedented growth, propelled by a combination of more lenient visa regulations and the worldwide fascination with K-pop culture. According to a report from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the nation welcomed 15.05 million foreign visitors by August 2026, marking a substantial 21.6 percent increase compared to the same timeframe in 2025. This impressive surge surpassed the previous record of 15 million visitors, which was attained in mid-October of the prior year. August alone recorded an all-time high, welcoming 2.25 million overseas tourists. The influx of visitors significantly boosted the economy, with foreign credit card transactions in the tourism industry surging by 48.5 percent year-over-year, reaching 14.02 trillion won (approximately $10.5 billion) by August. This growth far exceeds neighboring Asian destinations. While countries like Japan and Thailand experienced modest declines of 2.7 percent and 3.1 percent respectively, Korea's tourism numbers surged across all major markets. Taiwan led the growth in Greater China, with a 32.2 percent increase, while Southeast Asian markets also showed positive trends.",
  "summary": "Tourism in Korea has shattered historical records, driven by a surge in international visitors taking advantage of relaxed visa policies and a global obsession with Korean pop culture. According to data released Monday by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea welcomed 15.05 million foreign visitors through August 2026 — a 21.6 percent jump from the same period last year. The…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "S. Korea welcomes record 15 mln foreign tourists by Aug.",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/s-korea-welcomes-record-15-mln-foreign-tourists-by-aug",
        "published": "2026-09-28T02:16:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Eased visas, K-culture buzz drive record tourism boom in Korea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/eased-visas-k-culture-buzz-drive-record-tourism-boom-in-korea",
        "published": "2026-09-28T02:17:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}