South Korea plans to develop five new tourism hubs around regional airports, as the country tries to spread a record-breaking travel boom beyond the capital.
The country drew 18.9 million foreign visitors in 2025, surpassing the previous high of 17.5 million set in 2019. Yet the boom is concentrated in Seoul, the country’s capital, particularly in trendy neighborhoods like Itaewon and Seongsu-dong.
