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Korea has crossed a milestone, welcoming more than 20 million foreign tourists in a single year for the first time, driven by the global popularity of Korean culture, the Korea Times reports. Arrivals through September had already reached 17.11 million, a 21.5 percent increase from the same period in 2025, putting the country on track to surpass last year's full-year total by October, according to the Korea Times and Business Korea. Yonhap also estimated that the annual record was set early this year. Despite the boom, Korea's tourism balance remained in deficit for three consecutive months, the Korea Times reported on Nov. 9. Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young said the country is now working to open an era of 30 million foreign visitors by shifting focus from Seoul to regional areas, adding, "An unprecedented future has already arrived."