Business · Economy · 3 hrs ago
Foreign card spending in Seoul rises 57.7% to 8.84 trillion won
Foreign visitors spent 8.84 trillion won by card in Seoul from January to September 2026, up 57.7% from the same period a year earlier.
That spending already exceeded the 7.94 trillion won total for all of 2025.
The increase came as Seoul received a record 13.14 million foreign visitors during the nine-month period, including 4.2 million from China.
Visitors spent the largest share on shopping, followed by medical and wellness services.
Spending also rose in local commercial alleyways, increasing 80.5% to 308.2 billion won.
The figures matter because Seoul officials want tourism growth to support businesses beyond the city's main attractions.
The city plans to connect tourist sites with local districts and traditional markets and encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more.
Foreign visitors spent 8.84 trillion won using credit and debit cards in Seoul from January to September 2026, up 57.7 percent from a year earlier.
The total had already surpassed the 7.94 trillion won spent by foreign visitors in Seoul during all of 2025.
Shopping accounted for the largest share of spending, followed by medical and wellness services.
Spending in local commercial alleyways rose 80.5 percent to 308.2 billion won.
Seoul welcomed a record 13.14 million foreign visitors during the first nine months of 2026.
- Who
- Foreign visitors to Seoul.
- What
- They spent 8.84 trillion won using credit and debit cards, up 57.7 percent from a year earlier.
- When
- January to September 2026.
- Where
- Seoul, South Korea.
- Why
- The increase was driven by a record number of foreign visitors.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Foreign visitors spent 8.84 trillion won in Seoul, while the city welcomed 13.14 million foreign visitors.
Yonhap reported the figures from Seoul city government data.
- Total card spending
- 8.84 trillion won
- Year-on-year increase
- 57.7 percent
- Shopping share
- 46 percent
- Medical and wellness share
- 23.8 percent
- Foreign visitors
- 13.14 million
- Local commercial alleyway spending
- 308.2 billion won, up 80.5 percent