Reasons Behind the Surge in Foreigners Requesting 'One-Month Stays' in Korea and Future Challenges

 Reasons Behind the Surge in Foreigners Requesting 'One-Month Stays' in Korea and Future Challenges

I would like to share a recent, rapidly growing phenomenon in the statistics of foreign tourists visiting Korea.

In the past, tourism for foreigners consisted of a 3-night, 4-day "touch-and-go" trip where they would shop in Myeongdong, wear Hanbok in front of ancient palaces, take photos, and return home. However, the paradigm is shifting significantly these days. Foreigners are unpacking their luggage and starting to "live for a month" in the alleys of Hongdae, Seongsu-dong, and Jeju.

According to the Korea Tourism Statistics by the Korea Tourism Organization, the number of inbound foreign tourists surged from 970,000 in 2021 to 3.2 million in 2022, 11.03 million in 2023, and 16.37 million in 2024, reaching a record high of 18.94 million in 2025. That is equivalent to 55,000 people entering the country every single day.

What is noteworthy is not just the number of tourists, but the major shift in how they stay.

While independent foreign travelers accounted for over 80% according to a survey by the Korea Tourism Organization, data from the inbound platform Creatrip showed that transaction volume for foreign "one-month stay" travel products exploded by 272% compared to the same period last year. Beyond simple entry, the number of travelers looking for "live-like-a-local" packages has increased dramatically.

So why do foreigners want to stay in Korea for as long as a month?

The biggest goal is to experience "the real daily life of Koreans" seen in K-content. They truly want to live the lives of Koreans portrayed in dramas. They create a favorite local cafe, get personal color consultations, and attend language institutes. Supported by the government's "Workation Visa," digital nomads who work remotely by day and enjoy the city center by night have also settled in.

The accommodations they seek are not hotels, but Airbnb rentals, co-living houses in places like Hongdae, Yeonnam, and Seongsu, or short-term rental homes in Jeju and Busan. They shop for groceries and cook their own meals, becoming perfect "local residents."

What was the decisive reason for choosing Korea?

It is K-culture along with world-class "public safety" and "ultra-connected infrastructure." Experiences that surprise them even more than expected include streets that are safe even late at night, and a high-trust society where they can leave laptops and wallets on cafe tables without worry—an astounding experience for many foreigners. Furthermore, details such as convenience store ramen at Hangang Park, 24-hour food delivery, heated subway seats, designated seating for the elderly and pregnant women, and clean public restrooms are praised as wonderful touches.

This honorably suggests that Korean culture has a gravitational pull that moves people beyond mere sightseeing into long-term stays. Travelers who stay for a month become reliable, true neighbors and friends who revitalize local supermarkets and neighborhood alley businesses. The power of K-content has expanded into trust in the entire Korean social system.

However, challenges remain. Mobile authentication barriers—making it difficult to use delivery apps and taxi-hailing services without a foreign registration card—the opacity of short-term rental contracts, and the heavy concentration of visitors in Seoul are urgent tasks to resolve.

From now on, rather than asking "How can we attract more tourists?", we must reflect on "How can we embrace them as valuable neighbors in our community?" If we lower the barriers of daily life and refine the charm of local regions, South Korea will become the country where people around the world "most want to live."

Thank you.

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