China surpasses Japan as South Korea's largest source of visitors

By Hoang Vu August 1, 2024 | 12:20 am PT

Chinese tourists pose for a group photo at the Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul, South Korea, Oct. 5, 2016. Photo by Reuters

South Korea received 2.2 million visitors from China in the first half of this year, making it the biggest source of visitors for the Northeast Asian country.

Japan, which was its largest source of tourists last year, was pushed to the second position with 1.4 million, followed by Taiwan, and the U.S., according to South Korea’s Ministry of Tourism.

South Korea welcomed a total 7.7 million foreign visitors between January and June, a 74% increase from a year ago. This year it eyes 20 million foreign arrivals.

The Korean government pledged it will implement stricter regulations to crack down on cheap tour packages that target Chinese tourists.

Those buying such tour packages have been coerced by their tour guides into non-stop shopping activities to buy overpriced products such as cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and duty-free items.

Previously, a number of Chinese tourists complained to Korean authorities due to being forced into stores for shopping.

In May, a tour operator in South Korea was suspended for one month after it was found forcing a group of Chinese tourists to go shopping during their tour in the country. It was the first time the South Korean government suspended a travel agency's operations due to such practices.