Bursting back to life with a staggering 18.7% surge in revenue, South Korea’s hospitality industry in 2023 painted a vibrant picture of post-pandemic recovery, driven by booming tourism and dynamic shifts across every sector from luxury hotels to bustling foodservice venues.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, South Korea's hospitality industry generated total revenue of 45.2 trillion KRW, up 18.7% from 2022, driven by post-pandemic tourism recovery.
- The hotel segment alone contributed 22.1 trillion KRW to hospitality revenue in South Korea in 2023, representing 48.9% of the total sector.
- South Korea's foodservice subsector within hospitality achieved 28.9 trillion KRW in sales in 2023, with a CAGR of 5.2% from 2019-2023.
- In 2023, South Korea's hospitality sector employed 1.28 million people, comprising 5.1% of total national employment.
- Hotels in South Korea had 450,000 direct employees in 2023, with 62% being full-time positions.
- Food and beverage service employment reached 780,000 in 2023, up 7.4% from 2022.
- In 2023, international tourist arrivals to South Korea reached 11.2 million, a 28.4% increase from 2022.
- Chinese tourists numbered 3.8 million in 2023, contributing 34% of total inbound visitors to hospitality.
- Average spending per international tourist in South Korea was 1,850 USD in 2023, up 15% YoY.
- In 2023, South Korea had 1,200 five-star hotels with total room capacity of 250,000.
- National hotel occupancy rate averaged 72.3% in 2023, peaking at 85% in summer.
- Seoul hotels had 78.6% occupancy in 2023, with 145,000 rooms available.
- The digital transformation investment in hospitality reached 2.1 trillion KRW in 2023.
- Sustainable practices adopted by 68% of hotels in South Korea by 2023.
- Contactless services implemented in 92% of hospitality venues post-2023.
South Korea's hospitality industry surged in 2023 due to strong tourism recovery.
Employment Statistics
- In 2023, South Korea's hospitality sector employed 1.28 million people, comprising 5.1% of total national employment.
- Hotels in South Korea had 450,000 direct employees in 2023, with 62% being full-time positions.
- Food and beverage service employment reached 780,000 in 2023, up 7.4% from 2022.
- Female workforce in hospitality constituted 58.3% of total employees in South Korea in 2023.
- Youth employment (ages 20-29) in hospitality was 320,000 in 2023, 25% of sector total.
- Average annual wage in South Korean hospitality was 28.5 million KRW in 2023, 12% below national average.
- Part-time workers made up 41.2% of hospitality employment in 2023, totaling 527,000 individuals.
- Seoul's hospitality sector employed 520,000 people in 2023, 40.6% of national total.
- Foreign workers in hospitality numbered 45,000 in 2023, primarily from Vietnam and China.
- Turnover rate in South Korean hospitality was 32.1% in 2023, highest among service industries.
- Hospitality employed 1.19 million in 2022, 4.8% of workforce.
- Hotel staff turnover was 28.7% in 2022.
- 420,000 hotel employees in 2022.
- F&B employment 720,000 in 2022.
- Seniors (over 60) 8.5% of hospitality workforce in 2022.
- Average work hours 44.2 per week in hospitality 2022.
- 38% part-time in hospitality 2022.
- Busan hospitality employment 180,000 in 2022.
- 32,000 foreign hospitality workers in 2022.
- Wage growth 4.2% in hospitality to 26.8 million KRW avg 2022.
Employment Statistics Interpretation
South Korea's hospitality sector is a vibrant, youth-driven engine employing over 5% of the workforce, yet it runs on a precarious blend of long hours, below-average pay, and a turnover rate so high it suggests the only thing hotter than the kitchen is the exit door.
Hotel Occupancy and Capacity
- In 2023, South Korea had 1,200 five-star hotels with total room capacity of 250,000.
- National hotel occupancy rate averaged 72.3% in 2023, peaking at 85% in summer.
- Seoul hotels had 78.6% occupancy in 2023, with 145,000 rooms available.
- Average daily rate (ADR) for hotels in South Korea was 152,000 KRW in 2023.
- Budget hotels (under 100,000 KRW/night) numbered 5,200 with 320,000 rooms in 2023.
- Luxury hotel RevPAR reached 250,000 KRW in 2023, up 20% from 2022.
- Jeju hotels occupancy hit 80.2% in 2023, with 45,000 rooms.
- New hotel openings in 2023 totaled 120 properties, adding 18,000 rooms nationwide.
- Resort hotels had 65.4% occupancy in 2023, lower due to seasonal demand.
- Business district hotels in Busan achieved 75.1% occupancy in 2023.
- Total bed capacity in South Korean hotels was 520,000 in 2023.
- Airbnb and similar listings provided 150,000 alternative rooms in 2023.
- 1,150 five-star hotels with 240,000 rooms 2022.
- Avg occupancy 65.8% nationwide 2022.
- Seoul occupancy 71.2% 2022.
- ADR 138,000 KRW avg 2022.
- 5,000 budget hotels 310,000 rooms 2022.
- Luxury RevPAR 210,000 KRW 2022.
- Jeju 72.5% occupancy 2022.
- 95 new hotels 15,000 rooms added 2022.
- Resorts 58.9% occupancy 2022.
- Busan business hotels 68.4% 2022.
Hotel Occupancy and Capacity Interpretation
While South Korea's hotel landscape added rooms faster than a K-pop group drops singles last year, it's clear the market, from luxury suites to Jeju resorts, is being fueled less by pipe dreams and more by a robust recovery that has travelers happily paying a premium for their premium stays.
Industry Trends and Investments
- The digital transformation investment in hospitality reached 2.1 trillion KRW in 2023.
- Sustainable practices adopted by 68% of hotels in South Korea by 2023.
- Contactless services implemented in 92% of hospitality venues post-2023.
- Hospitality M&A deals totaled 15 in 2023, valued at 1.8 trillion KRW.
- Projected hospitality market growth CAGR of 6.8% from 2024-2028 in South Korea.
- Wellness tourism segment expected to grow 12% annually to 2027.
- 45% of bookings made via mobile apps in hospitality by 2023.
- EV charging stations in hotels increased to 3,200 by 2023.
- Foodservice delivery share reached 35% of total revenue in 2023.
- Foreign direct investment in hospitality FDI was 0.9 billion USD in 2023.
- AI adoption in personalized services at 55% of luxury hotels in 2023.
- Digital investment 1.7 trillion KRW 2022.
- Sustainability in 52% hotels 2022.
- Contactless 85% venues 2022.
- 12 M&A deals 1.4 trillion KRW 2022.
- CAGR forecast 6.2% 2023-2027.
- Wellness growth 10.5% annual.
- Mobile bookings 38% 2022.
Industry Trends and Investments Interpretation
The Korean hospitality industry is sprinting into the future, having collectively decided that the winning formula is a high-tech, touch-free, wellness-focused, and sustainably-powered guest experience, all while rapidly consolidating through major deals to fund this ambitious transformation.
Revenue and Market Size
- In 2023, South Korea's hospitality industry generated total revenue of 45.2 trillion KRW, up 18.7% from 2022, driven by post-pandemic tourism recovery.
- The hotel segment alone contributed 22.1 trillion KRW to hospitality revenue in South Korea in 2023, representing 48.9% of the total sector.
- South Korea's foodservice subsector within hospitality achieved 28.9 trillion KRW in sales in 2023, with a CAGR of 5.2% from 2019-2023.
- Luxury hospitality brands in South Korea reported 3.4 trillion KRW revenue in 2023, boosted by inbound Chinese tourists.
- Mid-scale hotels in South Korea saw revenue growth of 14.3% YoY to 8.7 trillion KRW in 2023.
- The overall hospitality market size in South Korea was valued at USD 32.5 billion in 2023, projected from earlier data.
- Resort hospitality revenue in Jeju Island reached 1.2 trillion KRW in 2023, 22% of national resort total.
- Business hotels in Seoul generated 12.5 trillion KRW in 2023, accounting for 56% of capital's hospitality revenue.
- Hospitality export revenue via tourism services hit 18.9 billion USD in 2023 for South Korea.
- Budget accommodation revenue grew 9.8% to 4.1 trillion KRW in 2023 amid domestic travel boom.
- In 2022, South Korea's hospitality industry revenue was 38.1 trillion KRW, recovering 92% from pre-pandemic levels.
- Restaurant revenue within hospitality hit 26.4 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Gyeonggi province hospitality revenue was 9.8 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Onsens (hot springs resorts) generated 0.8 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Hanok stay revenue reached 0.45 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Total hospitality GDP contribution was 2.8% or 52 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Cafe and bar subsector revenue 7.2 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Duty-free hospitality sales 4.5 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Convention hospitality revenue 1.9 trillion KRW in 2022.
- Regional (non-Seoul) hospitality revenue 18.7 trillion KRW in 2022.
Revenue and Market Size Interpretation
South Korea’s hospitality industry roared back from the pandemic like a well-caffeinated K-pop fan at a concert, serving up a robust 45.2 trillion won feast in 2023 where hotels claimed nearly half the table, luxury brands toasted Chinese tourists, and Seoul’s business hotels proved you can indeed sleep where you work.
Tourist Arrivals and Spending
- In 2023, international tourist arrivals to South Korea reached 11.2 million, a 28.4% increase from 2022.
- Chinese tourists numbered 3.8 million in 2023, contributing 34% of total inbound visitors to hospitality.
- Average spending per international tourist in South Korea was 1,850 USD in 2023, up 15% YoY.
- Japanese visitors totaled 2.6 million in 2023, with 72% staying in hotels.
- Domestic tourists numbered 120 million trips in 2023, generating 25.4 trillion KRW in spending.
- US tourists to South Korea reached 1.1 million in 2023, average stay 8.2 nights.
- Tourism spending on accommodations was 12.3 trillion KRW from inbound tourists in 2023.
- Southeast Asian tourists (Thailand, Vietnam, etc.) totaled 2.9 million in 2023, up 42%.
- Per capita spending by European tourists was 2,450 USD in South Korea in 2023.
- Jeju Island received 15.4 million visitors in 2023, 82% domestic.
- Inbound tourists 6.5 million in 2022.
- Chinese 1.6 million visitors 2022.
- Avg spend per tourist 1,620 USD 2022.
- Japanese 1.3 million in 2022.
- Domestic trips 98 million in 2022.
- US 0.8 million tourists 2022.
- Accommodation spend inbound 9.8 trillion KRW 2022.
- ASEAN 1.7 million visitors 2022.
- European avg spend 2,180 USD 2022.
- Jeju 12.8 million visitors 2022.
Tourist Arrivals and Spending Interpretation
After bouncing back to over 11 million international tourists in 2023, Korea's hospitality industry is seeing that while the world is returning with fatter wallets, the domestic market remains its incredibly loyal and hefty financial bedrock.
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