Outbound tourism — Departures in Korea
Korea: Outbound tourism — Departures was 29.55 million Persons in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Outbound tourism — Departures in Korea, 2008–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
Korea recorded 29.55 million Persons for outbound tourism — departures in 2025. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.0% on the previous year and up 53.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, outbound tourism — departures in Korea peaked at 29.55 million Persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.22 million Persons, in 2021.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Outbound tourism — Departures in Korea, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 12.00 million Persons | — |
| 2009 | 9.49 million Persons | -20.9% |
| 2010 | 12.49 million Persons | +31.5% |
| 2011 | 12.69 million Persons | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 13.74 million Persons | +8.2% |
| 2013 | 14.85 million Persons | +8.1% |
| 2014 | 16.08 million Persons | +8.3% |
| 2015 | 19.31 million Persons | +20.1% |
| 2016 | 22.38 million Persons | +15.9% |
| 2017 | 26.50 million Persons | +18.4% |
| 2018 | 28.70 million Persons | +8.3% |
| 2019 | 28.71 million Persons | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 4.28 million Persons | -85.1% |
| 2021 | 1.22 million Persons | -71.4% |
| 2022 | 6.55 million Persons | +436.1% |
| 2023 | 22.72 million Persons | +246.6% |
| 2024 | 28.69 million Persons | +26.3% |
| 2025 | 29.55 million Persons | +3.0% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Outbound tourism — Departures in Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +436.1% | 1.22 million Persons | 6.55 million Persons |
| 2023 | +246.6% | 6.55 million Persons | 22.72 million Persons |
| 2020 | -85.1% | 28.71 million Persons | 4.28 million Persons |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.75 million Persons | 9.49 million Persons | 12.00 million Persons | 2 |
| 2010s | 19.54 million Persons | 12.49 million Persons | 28.71 million Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.50 million Persons | 1.22 million Persons | 29.55 million Persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Korea
More reference data data for Korea
- Exposure to extreme precipitation — Annual precipitation change 250.37 Millimetres per year (2023)
- Exposure to extreme temperature — Annual temperature change 1.34 Degrees celsius (2023)
- IPAC Dashboard indicators — Geothermal 0 Index (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 08 - Sectoral breakdown of 29.04 Percentage of GDP (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 08 - Sectoral breakdown of 5.67 Percentage of GDP (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 08 - Sectoral breakdown of 45.01 Percentage of GDP (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 08 - Sectoral breakdown of 8.81 Percentage of GDP (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 08 - Sectoral breakdown of 28.04 Percentage of GDP (2022)
- R&D personnel by sector of performance and region — R&D Personnel 839,582 Persons (2024)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 08 - Sectoral breakdown of 0.0005 Percentage of GDP (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is outbound tourism — departures in Korea?
- Outbound tourism — departures in Korea was 29.55 million Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest outbound tourism — departures recorded in Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 29.55 million Persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest outbound tourism — departures recorded in Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.22 million Persons in 2021.
- How does Korea rank for outbound tourism — departures?
- Korea ranks 2nd out of 3 groups with data for 2025.
- Is outbound tourism — departures rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Outbound tourism — Departures. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Outbound tourism comprises the activities of residents of a given country travelling to and staying in places outside their country of residence.