Foreigners' card spending in Seoul jumps nearly 58% to $6.57 bil.

Foreign visitors spent 8.84 trillion won ($6.57 billion) by card in Seoul from January to September 2026, as the city welcomed a record number of tourists. Spending was up 57.7 percent year on year and had already exceeded the 7.94 trillion won total for all of 2025. Shopping accounted for the largest share, while spending in local commercial alleyways grew faster than in major tourist spots. Seoul officials plan to connect attractions with local districts and traditional markets to encourage longer stays and support the local economy.

Shopping made up 46 percent of foreign visitors’ card spending, followed by medical and wellness services at 23.8 percent, food and beverages at 13.3 percent, and accommodation at 10.4 percent.

Gangnam Ward accounted for 29.6 percent of spending, followed by Jung Ward at 27.7 percent and Mapo Ward at 7.1 percent.

Spending in 10 major tourist spots rose 57.2 percent year on year to 5.32 trillion won, while spending in local commercial alleyways increased 80.5 percent to 308.2 billion won.

Seoul received 13.14 million foreign visitors from January to September, up 21.5 percent year on year; Chinese visitors numbered 4.2 million, followed by 2.5 million from Japan, 1.43 million from Taiwan and 930,000 from the United States.

Foreign visitor numbers at Han River parks increased 41.7 percent year on year during the nine-month period.

Published Nov 3, 2026 9:35 am KST

Tourists shop at a drug store in Myeongdong, Seoul, Oct. 18. Yonhap

Foreign visitors' card spending in Seoul jumped nearly 58 percent from a year earlier in the first nine months of 2026, driven by a record number of visitors, city government data showed Tuesday.

Foreigners spent 8.84 trillion won ($6.57 billion) using credit and debit cards in Seoul from January to September, up 57.7 percent from the same period last year, according to the data. The figure has already surpassed the annual total of 7.94 trillion won for 2025.

By sector, shopping accounted for the largest share at 46 percent, followed by medical and wellness services at 23.8 percent. Food and beverages took up 13.3 percent, while accommodation accounted for 10.4 percent.

By district, Gangnam Ward led spending with 29.6 percent of the total, followed by Jung Ward at 27.7 percent and Mapo Ward at 7.1 percent.

Spending expanded in most areas across the city, with foreigners' card spending more than doubling in the Gangdong, Guro, Dongdaemun and Seongdong wards.

While foreign spending in 10 major tourist spots, including Myeongdong, Gangnam and Seongsu, grew 57.2 percent on-year to 5.32 trillion won, spending in local commercial alleyways surged 80.5 percent to 308.2 billion won.

The sharp increase in card spending comes as Seoul welcomed an all-time high of 13.14 million foreign visitors in the January-September period, up 21.5 percent from a year earlier.

Of the total, Chinese tourists accounted for the largest share at 4.2 million, with visitors from Japan at 2.5 million, Taiwan at 1.43 million and the United States at 930,000.

The city government also highlighted a 41.7 percent on-year increase in foreign visitors to Han River parks during the nine-month period.

City officials said they plan to develop content that encourages foreign visitors to stay longer and spend more while connecting major tourist attractions with local commercial districts and traditional markets to ensure that the boom in the tourism sector leads to the revitalization of the local economy.

2026年1月至9月，外国游客在首尔使用信用卡消费8.84万亿韩元（约合65.7亿美元），首尔迎来了创纪录的游客数量。消费额同比增长57.7%，已超过2025年全年7.94万亿韩元的消费总额。购物是消费的最大组成部分，而当地商业街巷的消费增长速度超过了主要旅游景点。首尔市政府计划将旅游景点与当地街区和传统市场连接起来，以鼓励游客延长停留时间，并促进当地经济发展。

外国游客刷卡消费中，购物占 46%，其次是医疗和健康服务（23.8%）、食品和饮料（13.3%）以及住宿（10.4%）。

江南区的消费额占总消费额的 29.6%，其次是中区（27.7%）和麻浦区（7.1%）。

10个主要旅游景点的消费额同比增长57.2%，达到5.32万亿韩元；而当地商业街的消费额同比增长80.5%，达到3082亿韩元。

从1月到9月，首尔接待了1314万外国游客，同比增长21.5%；其中中国游客420万，日本游客250万，台湾游客143万，美国游客93万。

在过去九个月中，汉江公园的外国游客数量同比增长了 41.7%。

发布于2026年11月3日上午9:35（韩国标准时间）

10月18日，游客在首尔明洞一家药店购物。（韩联社）

首尔市政府周二公布的数据显示，受游客数量创纪录的推动，2026年前九个月外国游客在首尔的刷卡消费额比上年同期增长了近58%。

数据显示，今年1月至9月，外国人在首尔使用信用卡和借记卡消费了8.84万亿韩元（约合65.7亿美元），比去年同期增长57.7%。这一数字已经超过了2025年全年7.94万亿韩元的预期值。

按行业划分，购物占比最大，达 46%，其次是医疗和健康服务，占比 23.8%。食品和饮料占比 13.3%，住宿占比 10.4%。

按地区划分，江南区支出最多，占总支出的 29.6%，其次是中区，占 27.7%，麻浦区占 7.1%。

全市大部分地区的消费都有所增长，其中江东区、九老区、东大门区和城东区的外国人刷卡消费额增长了一倍以上。

包括明洞、江南和圣水在内的 10 个主要旅游景点的外国游客消费额同比增长 57.2%，达到 5.32 万亿韩元；而当地商业街巷的消费额则飙升 80.5%，达到 3082 亿韩元。

首尔在今年 1 月至 9 月期间迎来了 1314 万外国游客，创历史新高，比上年同期增长 21.5%，与此同时，信用卡消费也大幅增长。

其中，中国游客人数最多，达 420 万；日本游客 250 万；台湾游客 143 万；美国游客 93 万。

市政府还强调，在过去九个月里，汉江公园的外国游客数量同比增长了 41.7%。

市政府官员表示，他们计划开发能够鼓励外国游客延长停留时间和增加消费的内容，同时将主要旅游景点与当地商业区和传统市场连接起来，以确保旅游业的繁荣能够带动当地经济的复苏。