Foreign Visitors to Korea Exceed 10 Million in First Half of Year...

[Anchor]

In the first half of this year, the number of foreign tourists visiting South Korea surpassed 10 million for the first time in history. Experts note that alongside the global K-culture craze, an increasingly tourist-friendly environment—such as Seoul being named the world's number one "walkable city"—has played a significant role.

Reporter Sim Useop has the details.

[Reporter]

The streets of Insadong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Despite the inclement weather, the alleys are packed with foreign tourists.

Traveling in small groups with family or friends, they enjoy a leisurely pace with customized itineraries.

[Matthew (28) and Thomas (28) / French Tourists: We only started exploring yesterday so we haven't seen much yet, but the city itself is really great. (The day and night look different, and the night is especially vibrant. I think that's a huge appeal.)]

Foreign tourist arrivals in South Korea surpassed 10 million in mid-last month, setting an all-time record that is a month and a half faster than last year.

Monthly card spending by foreign tourists also exceeded 2 trillion won for the first time.

[Seo Ryul / Caricature Artist: People come from all sorts of countries, from Africa to South America, so compared to last year, I definitely feel that sales have improved a bit.]

Experts evaluate that the global popularity of K-culture—including K-pop, dramas, and food—along with the weak Korean won and excellent tourism infrastructure, are drawing visitors in.

In April, the global travel magazine Time Out selected Seoul as the "world's best city to walk in."

The city received high scores for its pedestrian infrastructure seamlessly connecting tourist spots and commercial districts, its public transportation network, and its safety.

[Chelsea (34) / American Tourist: Even when taking my baby out for dinner in the middle of the night, I have never felt unsafe. I feel like I could walk home safely even after having a few drinks.]

A shifting trend in tourism is also emerging as visitors move away from traditional tourist attractions to explore the everyday spaces of local Koreans.

[Professor Lee Hoon / Department of Tourism, Hanyang University: Foreigners are also heading to places where young Koreans hang out, like Seongsu-dong and Ikseon-dong... Tourism is shifting toward 'lifestyle tourism,' where visitors want to experience and enjoy what locals do in their actual daily lives.]

With foreign tourist arrivals projected to top 20 million this year, experts advise that continuous efforts to strengthen competitiveness are necessary to encourage repeat visits and travel to regional areas outside Seoul.

(Video Editing: Lee So-young, VJ: Jeong Han-wook)

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