Chinese citizens represented 57.7% of foreign cruise arrivals to South Korea through August, as total passenger and crew visits reached 1.28 million, up 12% annually, Korea Tourism Organization data showed.
Seogwipo, on Jeju, received more than half of the foreign cruise arrivals recorded by sea during the first eight months.
The Korea Herald reported that 148 cruise port calls and 638,905 passenger arrivals were scheduled for the fourth quarter. The outlet said the scheduled traffic could lift this year's total above 2 million, topping the 1.6 million record reported for 2025.
