[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] SEOUL, August 19, 2025 — The global popularity of K-pop and K-dramas is fueling a sharp rise in foreign tourists’ spending at Korean entertainment and lifestyle venues, according to new data from the Shinhan Card Big Data Research Institute.
Between January and July 2025, card usage by tourists from Taiwan, the United States, Japan, and China at instant photo studios such as “Life Four Cuts” jumped 65% year-on-year. Nail salons and karaoke rooms saw increases of 17% and 18%, respectively, while PC cafés recorded a 36% surge.
The success of K-pop-themed animation K-pop Demon Hunters also drove interest in museum souvenirs, with visits to major national museums up 37% from a year earlier. Spending at dermatology and plastic surgery clinics increased 11% and 16%, respectively, led by sharp rises among Taiwanese (53% and 55%) and Chinese tourists (29% and 25%). Popular retail chains such as Olive Young (+41%), Daiso (+18%), and convenience stores (+29%) further cemented their role as “must-visit” stops for foreign travelers.
Regional spending growth was also notable. Busan recorded the highest increase in foreign card transactions, up 39% year-on-year. Transactions at private clinics in the city nearly doubled (+97%), while dermatology visits rose 68%. In Sokcho, café usage soared 70%, while in Chuncheon, Gyeongju, and Busan, café and restaurant transactions climbed 36–40%.
The data highlights how the Hallyu cultural phenomenon continues to transform Korea into a hub for entertainment, beauty, shopping, and lifestyle experiences, driving tourism beyond Seoul into regional cities.
알파경제 Paul Lee 특파원(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
