Local guests in hotels and similar establishments in South Korea

South Korea: Local guests in hotels and similar establishments was 23.84 million guests in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
23.84 million guests
Change on year
up 18.1%
World rank
18th
of 96 countries
All-time high
23.84 million guests
in 2018
All-time low
9.86 million guests
in 2015
Years of data
10
2009–2018

Local guests in hotels and similar establishments in South Korea, 2009–2018

05.0M10.0M15.0M20.0M25.0M2009201320182009: 10.9M guests2010: 12.0M guests2011: 12.0M guests2012: 12.1M guests2013: 12.0M guests2014: 10.9M guests2015: 9.9M guests2016: 16.0M guests2017: 20.2M guests2018: 23.8M guests

Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in guests.

Analysis

In 2018, local guests in hotels and similar establishments in South Korea stood at 23.84 million guests. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 18.1% on the previous year and up 117.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, local guests in hotels and similar establishments in South Korea peaked at 23.84 million guests in 2018 and was at its lowest, 9.86 million guests, in 2015.

That places South Korea 18th out of 96 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.

Local guests in hotels and similar establishments in South Korea, year by year

Annual values for Local guests in hotels and similar establishments in South Korea, 2009 to 2018.
Year guests Change
2009 10.95 million guests —
2010 12.00 million guests +9.6%
2011 12.02 million guests +0.2%
2012 12.08 million guests +0.5%
2013 12.03 million guests -0.4%
2014 10.94 million guests -9.1%
2015 9.86 million guests -9.8%
2016 16.00 million guests +62.2%
2017 20.19 million guests +26.1%
2018 23.84 million guests +18.1%

South Korea compared with similar countries

  • South Korea's 23.84 million guests is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.72 million guests, 3.1× the median. (44 countries reporting)
  • South Korea's 23.84 million guests is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 30.78 million guests, 77% of the median. (8 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 10.95 million guests 10.95 million guests 10.95 million guests 1
2010s 14.33 million guests 9.86 million guests 23.84 million guests 9

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 15 Canada 34.39 million guests
  2. 16 Poland 30.64 million guests compare
  3. 17 Iran 25.70 million guests
  4. 19 Malaysia 19.87 million guests compare
  5. 20 Sweden 19.21 million guests compare
  6. 21 Netherlands 16.47 million guests compare

See the full ranking of 96 places →

More reference data data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is local guests in hotels and similar establishments in South Korea?
Local guests in hotels and similar establishments in South Korea was 23.84 million guests in 2018, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest local guests in hotels and similar establishments recorded in South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 23.84 million guests in 2018.
What is the lowest local guests in hotels and similar establishments recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 9.86 million guests in 2015.
How does South Korea rank for local guests in hotels and similar establishments?
South Korea ranks 18th out of 96 countries with data for 2018.
Is local guests in hotels and similar establishments rising or falling in South Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 117.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Korea data come from?
The figures come from UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Local guests in hotels and similar establishments. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Local guests in hotels and similar establishments in South Korea. Statizoid, drawing on UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/local-guests-in-hotels-and-similar-establishments/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Local guests in hotels and similar establishments
Unit
guests
Source
UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
96 places, 1,992 data points, 1995–2024
Last refreshed

Number of domestic visitors who check in to hotels and similar accommodation establishments within their own country.