A record 4.76 million foreign tourists visited the country in this year's first quarter. Shown are such visitors on April 16 in Bukchon Hanok Village of Seoul's Jongno-gu District. (Lee Jeongwoo)

By Charles Audouin

A record-high 4.76 million people from abroad visited Korea in the first quarter.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on April 16 said the figure was 23% higher year on year to post an all-time high for the period. Last month alone saw an estimated 2.06 million foreign travelers, a monthly record.

China sent 1.45 million visitors, up 29%, accounting for the largest share by nationality. The number from Japan rose 20.2%, Taiwan 37.7%, and the U.S. and Europe 17.1%.

The surge apparently stemmed from the combined effect of the global spread of Hallyu (Korean Wave) and efforts by the public and private sectors to attract foreign tourists.

Qualitative as well as quantitative growth was seen. An analysis of data from Korea Tourism Statistics, Foreign Tourist Survey and Korea Tourism Data Lab found that the number of foreign visitors who arrived at provincial airports grew a remarkable 49.7% in the first quarter.

Thus 34.5% of such tourists visited regions outside of the Seoul metropolitan area, up from 31.3% last year. Overall satisfaction with domestic tourism remained high at 90.8 points.

To maintain growth, the ministry is stepping up its marketing overseas, planning to host this month the K-Tourism Roadshow in the Japanese cities of Osaka, Tokyo and Fukuoka after doing so in China last month in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Qingdao.

Systemic improvements to raise tourism in Korea include raising the number of countries eligible for multiple-entry visas to 12 including China, Vietnam and the Philippines and for automated immigration clearance from 18 to 42. From this month, a foreign participant in an international conference in Korea is allowed to undergo preferential entry screening and bring up to two companions.

"Based on K-Culture, Korea is positioning itself as a tourism destination sought after by people around the world," a ministry news release said. "We will implement strategies underway to stimulate tourism without fail to keep boosting our competitiveness in the sector."

caudouin@korea.kr