Foreign tourist spending in Korea tops $1.3 bil. for 1st time

Foreign tourist spending in Korea has shattered historical records, surging past the 2 trillion won ($1.3 billion) mark in a single month for the very first time. According to data analyzed by the Korea Tourism Organization, international visitors spent a staggering 2.12 trillion won in Korea using credit cards this past May. The figure represents a massive 67.1 percent jump compared to the same period last year, marking the highest growth rate the country has seen since 2023. The explosive growth was the result of a tidal wave of Chinese visitors, whose card usage skyrocketed by more than 200 percent year-on-year. However, analysts say the real story is that tourist habits are sharply bifurcating, with younger visitors hunting down local lifestyle trends while other tourists, mostly from China, concentrate on shopping for high-end luxury goods. For the younger crowd, tourism has evolved from checking off traditional landmarks to mimicking the daily routines of Seoulites. In the trendy alleys of Seongsu-dong and the shopping blocks of Myeong-dong, "gorpcore" fashion — the art of styliWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times