Creatrip Reports South Korea Tourist Bookings Rose 40% in 2025
- Foreign tourist arrivals in South Korea reached an annual transaction volume increase of approximately 40% in 2025, according to booking data released by inbound tourism platform Creatrip and...
- Beauty and medical goods accounted for roughly 51% of total transaction volume in 2025, marking a 71% year-over-year increase in that category.
- American visitors accounted for a high proportion of bookings for health check-ups and traditional Korean medicine products.
Foreign tourist arrivals in South Korea reached an annual transaction volume increase of approximately 40% in 2025, according to booking data released by inbound tourism platform Creatrip and reported by view.asiae.co.kr. The numbers reflect a broader shift away from conventional sightseeing toward lifestyle and cultural immersion.
Beauty, Medical Treatment, and Wellness Surges
Beauty and medical goods accounted for roughly 51% of total transaction volume in 2025, marking a 71% year-over-year increase in that category. Key services included dermatological procedures, vision correction, makeup application, and hair management. Demand expanded further into health and relaxation across 2026 data. Creatrip reported that total transaction volume for the first half of 2026 rose 34% compared to the same period in 2025. Dermatology transaction volume surged by 411%, while spa and wellness sectors also posted large gains alongside medical tourism fields like health check-ups, traditional Korean medicine, and dentistry.
American visitors accounted for a high proportion of bookings for health check-ups and traditional Korean medicine products. Taiwanese visitors primarily utilized dermatology and ophthalmology services. Meanwhile, Japanese tourists gravitated toward restorative wellness packages such as jjimjilbang saunas and massages, pushing total reservations for those recovery-focused offerings up by about 31% over the same timeframe.
Yoga Classes, Mountain Trekking, and Long-Term Stays
Travelers increasingly pursued health management outside of traditional clinical settings. Yoga and Pilates class reservations tripled between January and September 2026 compared to the previous year, with English-speaking Western tourists comprising half of those booking clients. Interest also extended to outdoor recreation, as approximately 87% of participants in the K Trekking Challenge—operated alongside the Korea Tourism Organization and the Korea National Park Service—were Western visitors.
Visitors seeking extended stays to experience daily life in South Korea drove a 272% increase in long-term living package transactions between January and May 10, 2026. These programs bundle accommodation and Korean language lessons with cultural activities such as cooking classes, hanbok attire experiences, and Taekwondo. Traditional craft bookings also rose 23% during the same months, driven by demand for hands-on souvenir creation involving traditional accessories like norigae and daenggi.