South Korea welcomed a record 4.76 million foreign tourists between January and March 2026, a 23 percent increase year-on-year, according to the country's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The surge was partly driven by a free outdoor concert by K-pop group BTS at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on 21 March — the group's first performance in nearly four years following members' mandatory military service — which drew over 100,000 fans. China was the top source of visitors with 1.45 million arrivals, while tourist card spending reached 3.21 trillion won (approximately $2.18 billion USD), and travel satisfaction among visitors hit a record high of 90.8 points.