The Seoul AI Foundation said Myeong-dong is the most visited tourist spot in Seoul among foreign visitors. (Korea.net DB)

By Uyen Nguyen

Foreign tourists are venturing beyond Seoul hot spots like the Myeong-dong shopping and dining neighborhood and Gyeongbokgung Palace to visit filming locations of Korean content, traditional markets and popular hiking destinations.

The Seoul AI Foundation on July 22 said this in releasing an analysis of international traveler traffic and reviews on Google Maps of 16 leading attractions in the capital last year.

The study covered locations featured in the Netflix animated blockbuster "KPop Demon Hunters" such as N Seoul Tower, Bukchon Hanok Village and Naksan Park, as well as traditional markets (Namdaemun and Gwangjang), shopping destinations (Myeong-dong, Samseong Station, and Coex) and hiking areas (mountains of Bukhansan, Gwanaksan, Bugaksan and Achasan).

Myeong-dong led all others in the average daily number of foreign tourists (100,910), followed by N Seoul Tower (57,370), Samseong Station and Coex (46,813). 

Dongdaemun Design Plaza saw the highest growth rate in the number of visitors with 12.1%, followed by the area around Hongik University Station (Hongdae) and Naksan Park each with 10.5% and Gwangjang Market 10.4%.

Historical landmarks like Gyeongbokgung and the Hanok village saw a notable increase in visitors from Southeast Asia such as Vietnam, the Philippines and Singapore.

Shopping hubs such as Myeong-dong, Namdaemun and Gwangjang saw a high proportion of visitors from China and Japan.

This gorgeous view from the summit of Bukhansan Mountain shows why mountain hiking is growingly popular among foreign tourists in Seoul. (Korea National Park Service)

Mountains in the capital are also growingly popular among tourists. Among the four mountains in the city, Bukhansan drew the most visitors with a daily average of 4,015.

The number of foreign visitors to Achasan rose 11.8% and Gwanaksan 10%, reflecting a shift in tourist preferences from shopping and culture to daily life and interactive experiences.

In tourist satisfaction, Gyeongbokgung received the highest rating on Google Maps with 4.7 out of five stars, while Seoul Forest had a positive review rate of 79.9%.

uyen81@korea.kr