Foreign visitors to Seoul are increasingly spreading their travel plans beyond the city’s best-known shopping and landmark areas, with more attention on traditional markets, cultural venues and hiking spots, according to a report released by the Seoul AI Foundation. The analysis covers 2025 and is based on two data sources: mobility information from SK Telecom roaming data and Google Maps review and activity signals from foreign visitors. The study reviews 16 major attractions across Seoul and finds tourism demand is distributed across a wider range of locations than in prior patterns. In terms of daily average foreign visitor numbers, Myeong-dong records the highest figure at 100,910, followed by N Seoul Tower at 57,370. Samseong Station and COEX come next at 46,813, with Gangnam Station at 41,210 and the Hongdae area at 40,213. The report also highlights which sites see the fastest growth. Dongdaemun Design Plaza posts the largest year-on-year increase in foreign visitors at 12.1 percent. Mount Acha rises 11.8 percent, while Hongdae and Naksan Park each increase 10.5 percent. Gwangjang Market grows 10.4 percent, with other gains also reported for Gyeongbok Palace and additional hiking areas.
Foreign tourists broaden Seoul itineraries, visit markets and hiking spots more in 2025
Foreign visitors to Seoul are increasingly spreading their travel plans beyond the city’s best-known shopping and landmark areas, with more attention on traditional markets, cultural venues and hiking...
- The Seoul AI Foundation reports that foreign tourism in Seoul broadens across more destinations in 2025.
- The study uses SK Telecom roaming-based mobility data and Google Maps review data for 16 major attractions.
- Myeong-dong has the highest average daily number of foreign visitors (100,910), followed by N Seoul Tower (57,370).
- Dongdaemun Design Plaza shows the largest year-on-year growth in foreign visitor traffic (+12.1%) in 2025.
- Traditional markets and hiking spots rise alongside popular entertainment areas, including Gwangjang Market (+10.4%) and Naksan Park (+10.5%).
Foreign visitors are increasingly venturing beyond Seoul's iconic shopping districts and royal landmarks, embracing filming locations, traditional markets and mountain trails as the city's tourism landscape grows more diverse, according to a new data analysis released Wednesday. The Seoul AI Foundation said its analysis of foreign visitor movement and online reviews found tourism demand spreading across a wider range of destinations throughout the capital in 2025. The study examined 16 major attractions using SK Telecom roaming-based mobility data and Google Maps reviews from foreign visitors. Myeong-dong attracted the largest average daily number of foreign visitors at 100,910. N Seoul Tower followed with 57,370 visitors, ahead of Samseong Station and Coex with 46,813, Gangnam Station with 41,210 and the Hongdae area with 40,213. The fastest growth was recorded at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, where foreign visitor traffic rose 12.1 percent. The Hongdae area and Naksan Park each posted a 10.5 percent increase, while Gwangjang Market rose 10.4 percent. N Seoul Tower recorded the highest share of
3 hours agoForeign tourists in Seoul are increasingly visiting traditional markets and hiking spots, expanding beyond the city's traditional attractions, a report showed Wednesday. The Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a multipurpose cultural complex in central Seoul, saw the largest year-on-year increase in foreign visitors at 12.1 percent in 2025, followed by Mount Acha in eastern Seoul at 11.8 percent, according to the report from the city-run Seoul AI Foundation. Other locations also recorded notable increases, with both the Hongdae area and Naksan Park posting a 10.5 percent on-year spike in foreign visitors, followed by Gwangjang Market at 10.4 percent, Gyeongbok Palace at 10.2 percent and Mount Gwanak at 10 percent, the foundation said. The foundation compiled the report by analyzing foreign pedestrian traffic data from mobile carrier SK Telecom and Google Maps review data for 16 major tourist attractions in Seoul last year. It found that the daily average floating population of foreigners was highest at Myeongdong (100,910), followed by N Seoul Tower (57,370), Samseong Station and COEX (46,813), Gan
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