Foreign tourists visiting South Korea are spending significantly more, with their credit card usage jumping nearly ten times compared to three years ago, according to a report released Tuesday by the Korea Credit Data (KCD) company.

The report indicates that the monthly overseas credit card revenue index for domestic merchants reached 960 in June, a substantial increase from the baseline of 100 points set in January 2023. This index has consistently risen throughout the observation period, with only minor seasonal fluctuations.

KCD's data also showed that in June, spending from overseas credit cards accounted for 1.2% of total merchant revenue, up from just 0.2% in January 2023. Over the past 12 months, a significant portion of this overseas card revenue was concentrated in specific regions: 65% was generated in Seoul, followed by Gyeonggi Province at 11% and Busan at 8%.

By industry, within the service sector, 40% of overseas card revenue came from dermatology clinics, while 14% originated from plastic surgery hospitals. In retail, fashion and apparel stores contributed 28% of overseas revenue. For dining, Korean restaurants accounted for 19% of overseas income from food and beverages.

The report further highlights spending habits. Foreign visitors spent an average of 166,000 won (approximately $117) per person on services, compared to just 47,000 won spent by local South Koreans. In the retail sector, the average overseas visitor spent 32,000 won, and an average of 33,000 won on food and drink.

South Korea welcomed 10.7 million foreign tourists in the first half of this year, a 21.3% increase compared to the same period in 2025.