South Korea Leisure Travel Market

South Korea Leisure Travel Market Overview:

The South Korea leisure travel market size reached USD 17,746.31 Million in 2024. Looking forward, the market is projected to reach USD 31,892.36 Million by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 6.73% during 2025-2033. The market is driven by cultural tourism, propelled by the global reach of Hallyu, alongside heritage landmarks, cuisine, and festivals that enrich visitor experiences. Infrastructure investments, international airports, and the KTX rail network provide seamless connectivity, supported by global events and smart tourism initiatives, further augmenting the South Korea leisure travel market share.

South Korea Leisure Travel Market Trends:

Cultural Tourism and Hallyu Wave

South Korea’s leisure travel industry is strongly supported by cultural tourism, particularly through the global influence of the “Korean Wave” or K-dramas, Hallyu. K-pop, and Korean cinema have significantly elevated the nation’s visibility, attracting international fans to destinations featured in shows and music videos. Seoul, Busan, and Jeju Island are popular for cultural immersion, offering historical palaces, traditional hanok villages, and vibrant urban districts. Heritage attractions such as Gyeongbokgung Palace and UNESCO World Heritage sites like Changdeokgung Palace enhance cultural depth, while culinary tourism, driven by the global popularity of Korean cuisine, further strengthens appeal. Festivals, from the Boryeong Mud Festival to Andong Mask Dance Festival, highlight traditional and modern aspects of Korean identity. Government-backed campaigns actively promote these cultural assets worldwide, ensuring that cultural influence directly translates into South Korea leisure travel market growth. In April 2025, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Visit Korea Committee launched "Korea Welcome Week 2025" (April 25–May 16), a nationwide campaign offering exclusive discounts, traveler assistance, multilingual guides, digital tourism guides, and on-site experiences for international visitors at major entry points like Incheon and Gimpo airports. The effort aimed to enhance visitor experience during peak travel periods and further drive inbound leisure travel. With entertainment, heritage, and cuisine aligned, South Korea has cultivated a unique cultural tourism ecosystem.

Urban Tourism and Shopping Destinations

Urban tourism plays a vital role in South Korea’s leisure travel sector, with Seoul leading as a global hub for retail, entertainment, and nightlife. Shopping districts such as Myeongdong, Gangnam, and Dongdaemun attract millions of visitors annually, combining luxury brands with local fashion and beauty products. The country’s reputation for cosmetics and skincare has made it a shopping destination for beauty enthusiasts worldwide. Beyond retail, South Korea’s cities offer attractions ranging from Lotte World and Everland theme parks to digital art exhibitions and interactive entertainment zones. Nightlife districts with K-pop clubs, traditional tea houses, and culinary streets create multifaceted experiences for travelers. In September 2024, Artisans of Leisure announced new private luxury tours in South Korea, highlighting the country’s cultural heritage and modern attractions. The itineraries include Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan, and Jeju Island, with experiences ranging from K-pop tours, K-beauty treatments, and contemporary architecture visits to Buddhist temple cuisine, UNESCO-listed sites, volcanic hikes, and Templestay programs. These offerings are designed to position South Korea as a premium destination for international leisure travelers seeking both cultural depth and modern lifestyle experiences. Together, these cities combine retail, entertainment, and lifestyle attractions, reinforcing South Korea’s status as a leading leisure hub in Asia.

South Korea Leisure Travel Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the country and regional levels for 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on traveler type, age group, expenditure type, and sales channel.

Traveler Type Insights:

• Solo
• Group

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the traveler type. This includes solo and group.

Age Group Insights:

• Baby Boomers
• Generation X
• Millennial
• Generation Z

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the age group. This includes baby boomers, generation X, millennial, and generation Z.

Expenditure Type Insights:

• Lodging
• Transportation
• Food and Beverages
• Events and Entertainment
• Others

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the expenditure type. This includes lodging, transportation, food and beverages, events and entertainment, and others.

Sales Channel Insights:

• Conventional Channel
• Online Channel

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the sales channel. This includes conventional channel and online channel.

Regional Insights:

• Seoul Capital Area
• Yeongnam (Southeastern Region)
• Honam (Southwestern Region)
• Hoseo (Central Region)
• Others

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all major regional markets. This includes Seoul Capital Area, Yeongnam (Southeastern Region), Honam (Southwestern Region), Hoseo (Central Region), and Others.

Competitive Landscape:

The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Competitive analysis such as market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided.

South Korea Leisure Travel Market News:

• In August 2024, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts expanded its South Korea portfolio with the opening of La Vie D’or Hotel and Resort, Trademark Collection by Wyndham, in Hwaseong-si. The resort spans 330,000 square meters, offering 190 rooms, a nine-hole golf course, wellness facilities, convention spaces, and proximity to major business hubs like Samsung Electronics and Hyundai-Kia Motors. With this launch, Wyndham now operates more than 30 hotels across South Korea.

South Korea Leisure Travel Market Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the South Korea leisure travel market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea leisure travel market on the basis of traveler type?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea leisure travel market on the basis of age group?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea leisure travel market on the basis of expenditure type?
• What is the breakup of the South Korea leisure travel market on the basis of sales channel?
•  What is the breakup of the South Korea leisure travel market on the basis of region?
• What are the various stages in the value chain of the South Korea leisure travel market? 
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the South Korea leisure travel market?
• What is the structure of the South Korea leisure travel market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the South Korea leisure travel market? 

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s industry report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the South Korea leisure travel market from 2019-2033.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the South Korea leisure travel market.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the South Korea leisure travel industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.