03 · Money

What visitors spend in Korea — the full numbers

How much visitors spend and on what, the tax refund rules, what a meal costs in Seoul and how the won has moved — plus the bigger picture on card spending, duty-free sales, medical tourism and tourism receipts. Every figure comes from official statistics, a government survey or a news report citing them.

426 numbers10 topics24 sources

Figures checked · October 3, 2026

03.1

What visitors spend

Averages from the 2025 International Visitor Survey (final results). Including flights, visitors from the Gulf states, the UK and the US spend the most per trip, and Japanese visitors the least.

US$1,802
average spend per visitor, including international flights

US$1,327.6 without international airfare. In 2024: US$1,877.4 and US$1,372.4.

2025 · Source

US$238
spent per day, excluding international flights

Up slightly from US$236.4 in 2024. Including airfare: US$321.9 a day (2024: US$326.4).

2025 · Source

US$423
spent on shopping per visitor — the biggest item

Accommodation US$361.0, restaurants US$209.0. Averages over all visitors, including those who spent nothing on an item.

2025 · Source

US$1,938
spent by visitors arriving in September — the highest month

Including airfare. February arrivals spent the least: US$1,669.7.

2025 · Source

Spend per visitor by category, 2025 (US$)Averaged over all visitors · 2024 figure in small print
  1. Shopping 422.62024: 439.2
  2. Accommodation 361.02024: 377.8
  3. International flights, foreign airlines 338.12024: 342.0
  4. International flights, Korean airlines 247.12024: 273.2
  5. Restaurants 209.02024: 227.8
  6. Travel agencies (packages, tours) 154.62024: 154.2
  7. Medical treatment & check-ups 61.22024: 50.0
  8. Other 34.62024: 37.9
  9. Buses, taxis and other road transport 33.92024: 34.0
  10. Food & drink bought in shops 25.32024: 30.8
  11. Beauty services 24.02024: 24.2
  12. Cultural services 23.42024: 16.2
  13. Rail 20.82024: 25.0
  14. Mobile data, SIM & Wi-Fi 11.12024: 11.9
  15. Entertainment & sports 10.62024: 12.3

2025 · Source: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism & KCTI — 2025 International Visitor Survey (final, Jul 2026)

Spend per visitor by purpose of visit, 2025US$ per visitor
PurposeIncl. flightsExcl. flights
Leisure & holiday1,667.41,305.2
Visiting friends & relatives1,701.81,077.0
Business2,182.91,280.4
Education3,092.12,636.3
Other2,744.22,187.0

2025 · Source: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism & KCTI — 2025 International Visitor Survey (final, Jul 2026)

Spend per visitor by travel style, 2025US$ per visitor. Without flights, group tourists spend the most.
Travel styleIncl. flightsExcl. flights
Independent travel1,916.91,326.4
Group tour1,493.01,487.4
Flight + hotel package1,127.01,116.5

2025 · Source: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism & KCTI — 2025 International Visitor Survey (final, Jul 2026)

Spend per visitor by country of residence, 2025US$. “Flights” means international airfare.
CountryPer trip, incl. flightsPer trip, excl. flightsPer day, incl. flightsPer day, excl. flights
All visitors1,802.31,327.6321.9238.3
China1,749.11,503.5332.5279.9
Japan1,007.7838.5281.0231.8
Taiwan1,408.71,207.7277.1236.1
United States3,052.11,538.8459.3214.4
Hong Kong1,695.31,377.1323.6257.8
Thailand1,565.61,150.4306.1223.9
Vietnam1,343.71,115.6250.7212.9
Malaysia1,749.41,362.5293.9226.0
Philippines1,402.01,084.5234.0180.1
Singapore2,225.01,636.2331.9241.6
Indonesia1,802.31,435.3285.6228.8
Russia2,265.71,528.3307.3201.1
Mongolia1,822.11,350.0242.4172.4
India2,654.11,906.4316.7208.2
Gulf states (GCC)3,857.52,597.4523.4342.6
Canada2,810.31,589.4420.6211.3
Australia2,401.61,516.1314.5184.2
United Kingdom3,084.01,691.1398.0201.2
Germany2,913.01,692.3337.5170.6
France2,875.71,752.1288.2158.3

2025 · Source: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism & KCTI — 2025 International Visitor Survey (final, Jul 2026)

03.2

Who spends most on what

Gulf visitors top the shopping column and Central Asians the medical column, while visitors from the UK, Germany and France spend more on accommodation than on shopping.

US$968
spent on shopping by visitors from the Gulf states — the most of any market

China US$651.9; all visitors US$422.6.

2025 · Source

US$451
spent on medical treatment by visitors from Central Asia

All visitors US$61.2; Mongolia US$176.9.

2025 · Source

US$730
spent on accommodation by visitors from Germany

Among the highest, with India (US$839.0) and the Gulf states (US$754.7). All visitors: US$361.0.

2025 · Source

Spend per visitor on key items, by country, 2025 (US$)Averaged over all visitors from each market, including those who spent nothing on an item
CountryShoppingAccommodationRestaurantsMedical & check-upsBeauty services
All visitors422.6361.0209.061.224.0
China651.9262.2214.988.125.4
Japan224.9194.8122.863.932.3
Taiwan453.1281.8123.741.415.3
United States251.3579.9285.620.120.2
Hong Kong519.1348.3255.247.633.0
Thailand509.5155.5232.398.119.0
Vietnam357.4205.5143.120.87.0
Singapore492.4536.5299.161.829.9
Philippines290.2321.4192.112.514.3
Indonesia393.3391.7173.031.46.4
Malaysia407.4414.3181.56.916.7
Mongolia429.2247.5239.3176.981.6
Central Asia548.4371.3265.7450.843.6
Gulf states (GCC)967.5754.7292.642.6184.9
United Kingdom258.6693.8354.74.96.6
Germany244.6730.3313.51.75.0
France374.6631.6352.412.415.4
Australia288.0578.2305.322.810.1
Canada297.5566.1298.770.619.9

2025 · Source: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism & KCTI — 2025 International Visitor Survey (final, Jul 2026)

03.3

Tax refunds: the rules

Foreign visitors can reclaim the VAT on goods they take out of Korea. These are the limits set in law as of October 2026.

10.0%
VAT — already included in price tags

Refunds are paid net of the refund operator’s fee.

as of 3 Oct 2026 · Source

₩15,000
minimum purchase per transaction (tax included) to qualify

Purchases below this are not eligible.

as of 3 Oct 2026 · Source

Instant refunds and the export deadline

₩1M
Instant refund in the shop: each purchase must be under this amount, tax included
₩5M
Instant refund: total purchases per stay, counted from your arrival, may not exceed this
3
Months from purchase to take the goods out of Korea — customs confirms the export at your departure port. Miss the deadline and later purchases lose instant-refund eligibility.
₩6M
Refund through an authorised refund operator, such as a downtown refund counter: each purchase up to this amount, tax included

as of 3 Oct 2026 · Source: Special Provisions on VAT and Individual Consumption Tax for Foreign Tourists (Presidential Decree), Arts. 6, 9, 10-4 — Korea Law Information Center

Hotel stays and cosmetic procedures

30
Nights: VAT on stays of up to 30 nights at qualifying tourist hotels can be refunded — a special rule that runs until 31 Dec 2028
2025
The VAT refund on cosmetic surgery and dermatology, introduced in 2016, ended with treatments received by 31 Dec 2025. A bill to revive it until the end of 2027 went to a National Assembly subcommittee in July 2026 but had not passed when we checked.

as of 3 Oct 2026 · Source: Restriction of Special Taxation Act, Arts. 107-2, 107-3 (in force 18 Sep 2026) — Korea Law Information Center; bill status: Hankyung, 31 Jul 2026

03.4

What things cost in Seoul

Average prices in Seoul from the Korea Consumer Agency’s Chamgagyeok price portal (provisional). The restaurants and shops surveyed can change over time, so read small moves with care.

₩11,923
average price of bibimbap in Seoul

₩8,808 in August 2019.

Aug 2026 (provisional) · Source

₩3,923
for a roll of gimbap

+8.3% in a year — the steepest rise of the eight dishes tracked.

Aug 2026 (provisional) · Source

₩21,321
for 200 g of samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly)

₩16,154 in August 2019.

Aug 2026 (provisional) · Source

Average price of 8 popular dishes in SeoulChange calculated from the portal’s prices. Samgyeopsal converted to a 200 g serving.
DishAug 2019Aug 2025Aug 2026Change in a year
Naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles)₩8,962₩12,423₩12,692+2.2%
Bibimbap₩8,808₩11,538₩11,923+3.3%
Kimchi stew set meal (kimchi-jjigae)₩6,269₩8,577₩8,769+2.2%
Samgyeopsal (pork belly), 200 g₩16,154₩20,571₩21,321+3.6%
Jajangmyeon (black-bean noodles)₩4,962₩7,577₩7,731+2.0%
Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup)₩14,462₩18,000₩18,269+1.5%
Kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup)₩6,923₩9,692₩10,038+3.6%
Gimbap, 1 roll₩2,408₩3,623₩3,923+8.3%

Aug 2019 · Aug 2025 · Aug 2026 (provisional) · Source: Korea Consumer Agency — Chamgagyeok price portal, dining-out prices (provisional)

Personal service prices in SeoulChange calculated from the official counts
ServiceAug 2025Aug 2026Change
Public bathhouse, adult₩10,769₩11,000+2.1%
Men’s haircut₩12,538₩13,231+5.5%
Women’s haircut₩23,692₩24,462+3.3%
Inn (yeogwan) room with bath, 1 night₩54,154₩52,615−2.8%
Dry-cleaning a two-piece suit₩10,231₩11,692+14.3%

Aug 2025 · Aug 2026 (provisional) · Source: Korea Consumer Agency — Chamgagyeok price portal, personal service prices (provisional)

03.5

Inflation and exchange rates

Consumer prices rose 3.1% in the year to August 2026. Exchange rates change every day: the tables show Bank of Korea monthly and annual averages of the official base rate, not today’s rate.

3.1%
consumer price inflation, year to August 2026

1.7% a year earlier. Partly a base effect from a one-off telecom discount in August 2025.

Aug 2026 · Source

2.8%
inflation in Seoul, year to August 2026

Below the national 3.1%.

Aug 2026 · Source

2.7%
rise in restaurant prices, year to August 2026

Restaurant price index 128.50 (2020 = 100) — about 28.5% above the 2020 average.

Aug 2026 · Source

2.1%
consumer price inflation in 2025

The lowest in five years, slightly above the 2.0% target.

2025 · Source

Monthly average exchange rates, 2026Won per unit of foreign currency (per 100 for yen). The won was weakest in June (₩1,527.3 per US dollar) and strongest in September (₩1,359).
MonthUS dollar100 yenEuroChinese yuan
Jan1,456.51929.511,709.82209.08
Feb1,449.32932.631,713.05209.73
Mar1,486.64936.681,718.26215.65
Apr1,487.39933.921,737.95217.41
May1,490.11942.041,740.69219.11
Jun1,527.30950.381,758.45225.51
Jul1,497.43921.461,709.78220.94
Aug1,406.30885.631,629.78208.69
Sep1,359.00869.521,567.13202.60

Jan–Sep 2026 · Source: Bank of Korea — ECOS, exchange rates against the won (table 731Y004), monthly averages

Annual average exchange ratesWon per unit (per 100 for yen). Other currencies shown for selected years.
YearUS dollar100 yenEuroChinese yuan
20191,165.651,069.761,304.81168.58
20201,180.05–––
20211,144.42–––
20221,291.95–––
20231,305.41931.241,412.36184.22
20241,363.98900.361,475.05189.20
20251,422.22950.791,607.46197.78

2019–2025 · Source: Bank of Korea — ECOS, exchange rates against the won (table 731Y004), annual averages

03.6

Card spending by visitors

Two official measures exist and they cannot be compared: KTO tracks tourism-sector card spending in won, including online purchases, while the Bank of Korea counts all card use by non-residents in US dollars.

₩14.02 trillion
spent on cards by foreign visitors in tourism sectors, Jan–Aug 2026 (KTO)

+48.5% on Jan–Aug 2025 (₩9.4396 trillion) — the highest since records began. Includes online purchases.

Jan–Aug 2026 · Source

72.3%
of foreign visitors’ in-person card spending in Korea was in Seoul

Seoul: ₩1.1532 trillion (+50.5% year on year), excluding ₩397.4 billion of online spending. Large shopping malls ₩245.2 billion, medical ₩192.1 billion.

Apr 2026 · Source

Tourism card spending by foreign visitors, by month, 2026 (KTO)Includes online purchases. Figures as revised in the 28 Sep 2026 release.
Jan: ₩1.18 trillion ₩1.18 trillion Jan Feb: ₩1.07 trillion Feb Mar: ₩1.71 trillion Mar Apr: ₩1.99 trillion Apr May: ₩2.12 trillion ₩2.12 trillion May Jun: ₩2.06 trillion Jun Jul: ₩1.95 trillion Jul Aug: ₩1.93 trillion ₩1.93 trillion Aug
View as table
ItemValue
Jan₩1.18 trillion
Feb₩1.07 trillion
Mar₩1.71 trillion
Apr₩1.99 trillion
May₩2.12 trillion
Jun₩2.06 trillion
Jul₩1.95 trillion
Aug₩1.93 trillion

Jan–Aug 2026 · Source: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism — press release, 28 Sep 2026 (KTO Korea Tourism Data Lab)

US$14.08B
card spending in Korea by non-residents — a record (Bank of Korea)

+18.2%. All card use by non-residents, in US dollars — a different measure from the KTO won figures, so the two cannot be compared. The ministry’s release rounds it to US$14.1B.

2025 · Source

US$4.86B
non-residents’ card spending in Korea — a quarterly record (Bank of Korea)

+28.2% year on year and +36.1% on the previous quarter. 25.02 million cards used, US$194 per card.

Q2 2026 · Source

US$22.91B
spent abroad on cards by Korean residents (Bank of Korea)

+5.5%, also a record.

2025 · Source

03.7

Duty-free sales

Visitor numbers rose in 2025 but duty-free sales fell, as bulk-buying daigou resellers declined and individual tourists shifted to stores such as Olive Young and Daiso. Figures are from the Korea Duty Free Shops Association, as reported in the news.

₩12.53 trillion
duty-free sales in Korea

−11.9% from ₩14.2249 trillion in 2024 — the lowest since 2016.

2025 · Source

₩9.33 trillion
duty-free sales to foreign customers

−16% on 2024.

2025 · Source

74.5%
of duty-free sales were to foreigners

Calculated from the association’s totals.

2025 · Source

81.3%
foreigners’ share of duty-free sales

75.8% a year earlier. Foreign sales ₩917.6 billion (+11.6%) from 1.279 million foreign shoppers (+31.9%).

Jun 2026 · Source

03.8

Medical and beauty tourism

Dermatology dominates, and almost nine in ten foreign patients are treated in Seoul. The VAT refund on cosmetic procedures ended on 31 Dec 2025.

2.01M
foreign patients treated in Korea — the first year above 2 million

2.72 million patient visits, from 201 countries. Patients from China rose 137.5% and from Taiwan 122.5%.

2025 · Source

62.9%
of foreign patients were treated in dermatology

1.31 million people. 87.7% went to clinics rather than hospitals.

2025 · Source

87.2%
of foreign patients were treated in Seoul

Fastest growth outside the Seoul area: Busan +151.5%, Jeju +114.7%.

2025 · Source

₩12.50 trillion
spent in Korea by medical tourists and their companions (estimate)

Of which ₩3.3 trillion on medical care itself.

2025 · Source

₩213.1 billion
foreign card spending on medical services

+66.5% on July 2025 (₩128 billion); 86.8% was spent in Seoul. Dermatology 54.9%, plastic surgery 19.3%, pharmacies 12.7%.

Jul 2026 · Source

7.06M
foreign patients since records began in 2009

2009–2025 · Source

03.9

Tourism receipts and the travel balance

Bank of Korea balance-of-payments figures; “general travel” excludes study and training. Koreans still spend more abroad than visitors spend in Korea, but in 2026 the gap narrowed sharply, with surpluses in March, May and June.

US$21.89B
general travel receipts — what foreign travellers spent in Korea

The “international tourism receipts” figure on our overview page. Excludes spending by foreign students on study and training.

2025 (provisional) · Source

US$22.21B
total travel receipts, including foreign students’ study and training

General travel receipts plus study and training spending by foreigners in Korea.

2025 (provisional) · Source

US$32.65B
general travel payments — what Koreans spent on trips abroad

Excludes study abroad. The travel balance was negative in every year from 2015 to 2025.

2025 (provisional) · Source

US$135,100,000
travel surplus in March 2026

The first monthly surplus since November 2014, 136 months on. First reported as US$140M; May and June 2026 were in surplus too.

Mar 2026 (provisional) · Source

General travel receipts by year, 2015–2025What foreign travellers spent in Korea, excluding study and training. 2025 provisional.
2015: US$14.68B 2015 2016: US$16.75B 2016 2017: US$13.26B 2017 2018: US$18.46B 2018 2019: US$20.74B US$20.74B 2019 2020: US$10.98B US$10.98B 2020 2021: US$11.34B 2021 2022: US$13.02B 2022 2023: US$16.21B 2023 2024: US$19.13B 2024 2025: US$21.89B US$21.89B 2025
View as table
ItemValue
2015US$14.68B
2016US$16.75B
2017US$13.26B
2018US$18.46B
2019US$20.74B
2020US$10.98B
2021US$11.34B
2022US$13.02B
2023US$16.21B
2024US$19.13B
2025US$21.89B

2015–2025 · Source: Bank of Korea — ECOS, travel account in the balance of payments (tables 301Y013, 301Y014), annual

Travel receipts, payments and balance (US$ million)The balance covers all travel, including study abroad, so it is not simply receipts minus payments. 2025 provisional.
YearGeneral travel receiptsGeneral travel paymentsTravel balance (all travel)
201514,675.821,528.0-10,471.5
201616,753.923,688.6-10,357.4
201713,263.927,959.8-18,323.7
201818,461.831,527.9-16,565.7
201920,744.929,260.5-11,872.0
202010,984.013,545.1-5,297.7
202111,335.115,414.6-6,936.9
202213,021.518,752.9-8,557.5
202316,214.226,596.8-13,222.8
202419,131.329,338.5-12,883.0
202521,887.732,648.1-13,492.9

2015–2025 · Source: Bank of Korea — ECOS, travel account in the balance of payments (tables 301Y013, 301Y014), annual

Travel account by month, Jan–Jul 2026 (US$ million)Receipts and payments = general travel; balance = all travel. Jan–Jul 2026 receipts were 34.9% above the same months of 2025. Provisional; July is the latest month published.
MonthReceipts 2026Receipts 2025Payments 2026Balance 2026Balance 2025
Jan1,636.21,229.73,039.6-1,743.6-1,655.3
Feb1,555.91,328.52,655.2-1,256.3-1,517.4
Mar2,648.81,658.12,385.0135.1-847.5
Apr2,404.32,043.42,244.4-31.1-531.2
May2,577.21,861.52,356.754.1-1,022.2
Jun2,784.01,855.42,187.4439.0-1,041.3
Jul2,624.12,054.62,674.4-342.9-917.2

Jan–Jul 2026 (provisional) · Source: Bank of Korea — ECOS, travel account (table 301Y014), monthly

03.10

Minimum wage

Hourly rates set by the Minimum Wage Commission. The monthly figure is for a standard 209-hour month.

₩10,320
minimum wage per hour in 2026

₩2,156,880 a month for 209 hours.

2026 · Source

₩10,700
minimum wage per hour set for 2027

+3.7%, decided on 14 Jul 2026.

2027 · Source

+65.4%
rise in the hourly minimum wage over ten years

From ₩6,470 in 2017 to ₩10,700 in 2027.

2017–2027 · Source

Hourly minimum wage, 2017–2027
2017: ₩6,470 ₩6,470 2017 2018: ₩7,530 2018 2019: ₩8,350 2019 2020: ₩8,590 2020 2021: ₩8,720 2021 2022: ₩9,160 2022 2023: ₩9,620 2023 2024: ₩9,860 2024 2025: ₩10,030 2025 2026: ₩10,320 ₩10,320 2026 2027: ₩10,700 ₩10,700 2027
View as table
ItemValue
2017₩6,470
2018₩7,530
2019₩8,350
2020₩8,590
2021₩8,720
2022₩9,160
2023₩9,620
2024₩9,860
2025₩10,030
2026₩10,320
2027₩10,700

2017–2027 · Source: Minimum Wage Commission — minimum wage decisions by year

Minimum wage by year, 2017–20272027 rate decided on 14 Jul 2026 and gazetted on 5 Aug 2026.
YearHourly (₩)Monthly, 209 hours (₩)Increase
20176,4701,352,230+7.3%
20187,5301,573,770+16.4%
20198,3501,745,150+10.9%
20208,5901,795,310+2.87%
20218,7201,822,480+1.5%
20229,1601,914,440+5.05%
20239,6202,010,580+5.0%
20249,8602,060,740+2.5%
202510,0302,096,270+1.7%
202610,3202,156,880+2.9%
202710,7002,236,300+3.7%

2017–2027 · Source: Minimum Wage Commission — minimum wage decisions by year

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All sources

  1. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism & KCTI — 2025 International Visitor Survey (final, Jul 2026)
  2. Value-Added Tax Act, Art. 30 — Korea Law Information Center
  3. Enforcement Rule of the Special Provisions on VAT and Individual Consumption Tax for Foreign Tourists, Art. 2 — Korea Law Information Center
  4. Special Provisions on VAT and Individual Consumption Tax for Foreign Tourists (Presidential Decree), Arts. 6, 9, 10-4 — Korea Law Information Center
  5. Restriction of Special Taxation Act, Arts. 107-2, 107-3 (in force 18 Sep 2026) — Korea Law Information Center; bill status: Hankyung, 31 Jul 2026
  6. Korea Consumer Agency — Chamgagyeok price portal, dining-out prices (provisional)
  7. Korea Consumer Agency — Chamgagyeok price portal, personal service prices (provisional)
  8. National Data Office — Consumer Price Trends, Aug 2026 (2 Sep 2026, via KDI Economic Information Center)
  9. Money Today via Daum, 31 Dec 2025 — citing National Data Office
  10. Bank of Korea — ECOS, exchange rates against the won (table 731Y004), monthly averages
  11. Bank of Korea — ECOS, exchange rates against the won (table 731Y004), annual averages
  12. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism — press release, 28 Sep 2026 (KTO Korea Tourism Data Lab)
  13. Seoul Shinmun, 31 May 2026 — citing Seoul Metropolitan Government analysis of KTO data
  14. Nocut News, 25 Feb 2026 — citing Bank of Korea (card use abroad by residents, 2025)
  15. SBS Biz, 2 Sep 2026 — citing Bank of Korea (card use abroad by residents, Q2 2026)
  16. Dailian, 19 Feb 2026 — citing Korea Duty Free Shops Association (2024 figure: NewDaily, 14 Jan 2026)
  17. Newsis, 27 Jul 2026 — citing Korea Duty Free Shops Association
  18. Ministry of Health and Welfare — press release, 24 Apr 2026 (via KDI Economic Information Center)
  19. Korea Economic Daily (Hankyung), 30 Aug 2026 — citing KTO Korea Tourism Data Lab and KHIDI
  20. Bank of Korea — ECOS, travel account in the balance of payments (tables 301Y013, 301Y014), annual
  21. Bank of Korea — ECOS, total travel receipts (table 301Y014, item SD1000)
  22. Hankyung Business via Daum, 8 May 2026 — citing Bank of Korea (balance of payments, Mar 2026); current value from Bank of Korea ECOS
  23. Bank of Korea — ECOS, travel account (table 301Y014), monthly
  24. Minimum Wage Commission — minimum wage decisions by year

Figures checked · October 3, 2026