Tourism in South Korea
In 2012, 11.1 million foreign tourists visited South Korea, making it the 20th most visited country in the world,[1] up from 8.5 million in 2010.[2] Most non-Korean tourists come from Japan, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The recent popularity of Korean popular culture, often known as the "Korean wave", in these countries has increased tourist arrivals. Seoul is the principal tourist destination for visitors; popular tourist destinations outside of Seoul include Seorak-san national park, the historic city of Gyeongju and subtropical Jeju Island.