South Korea is experiencing a surge in international visitors, with the number of foreigners entering the country this month increasing by over 30% compared to last year. This rise potentially indicates a significant influx of global BTS fans arriving for the highly anticipated K-pop band’s comeback concert in Seoul this weekend.
Data released by the Korea Immigration Service reveals that between March 1st and March 18th, 1,099,700 foreigners (excluding crew members) entered South Korea. This represents a 32.7% increase, or 271,200 individuals, from the 828,500 arrivals recorded during the same period last year.
This substantial growth is likely linked to the gathering of dedicated BTS fans (“ARMY”) in Seoul for Saturday’s spectacular comeback concert, scheduled to take place at Gwanghwamun Square in the heart of the city. Projections suggest that the total number of foreign visitors could jump by more than 50% year-on-year once figures for those arriving on Thursday and Friday are factored in, further highlighting the global impact of BTS and K-pop on South Korean tourism.
