In a period marked by strict global travel restrictions and severe industry contraction, the Korea Tourism Organization increased spending on its 30 overseas branches to over 20 billion won last year, according to data obtained by Yonhap News Agency.
In Plain English: The Clinical Takeaway
- Budget Expansion: Despite global tourism coming to a halt during the pandemic, spending on international offices grew steadily year over year.
- Operational Costs: Last year’s expenditures surpassed 20 billion won, driven by office upkeep, local staff wages, and dispatched personnel expenses.
- Policy Scrutiny: Government officials and industry leaders have questioned the return on investment given the severe downsizing experienced by private sector tourism businesses.
Financial Expansion Amid Global Stagnation
Data provided by the Korea Tourism Organization reveals that the total amount executed for its overseas branches reached 20,106,606,748 won last year. This marked a 13.2% increase compared to the 17.8 billion won recorded the previous year.
Expenditures climbed steadily throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. By the first half of this year alone, the organization had already executed 10.3 billion won—equal to 51.4% of the previous year’s total.
| Year / Period | Total Executed Amount | Key Cost Drivers |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 15.6 Billion Won | Office maintenance, dispatched personnel |
| 2021 | 15.7 Billion Won | Continued baseline operations |
| 2022 | 16 Billion Won | Maintenance and staffing |
| 2023 | 17.5 Billion Won | Gradual operational scaling |
| 2024 | 17.8 Billion Won | Upward spending trajectory |
| Last Year | 20.1 Billion Won | Office upkeep (8.24B), local staff (5.95B), dispatched staff (5.91B) |
Contrasting Realities in the Tourism Sector
International arrivals dropped precipitously during the peak years of the health crisis. In 2020, foreign visitor arrivals excluding flight crew fell by 87% year over year to just 2.14 million. Numbers remained depressed at 530,000 in 2021 and 2.69 million in 2022.
During these three years, core functions like attracting foreign tourists and supporting domestic tourism companies abroad were severely limited. Yet, public spending on the 30 regional offices across 21 countries continued unabated, totaling over 47 billion won across that span.
Private industry stakeholders have expressed frustration over the disparity.
Accountability and Official Oversight
Staffing levels at the 30 overseas locations total 220 workers, consisting of 78 dispatched personnel and 142 local staff members. The Chinese operation alone maintains more than 50 employees distributed across six offices in cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenyang.
During an agency business report meeting, concerns were raised regarding the high volume of overseas offices.
In defense of the expenditures, a Korea Tourism Organization representative explained that digital marketing initiatives, such as virtual online travel campaigns, were intensified during the pandemic to prepare for the eventual market rebound.
Contraindications & When to Consult a Doctor
Because this report covers administrative and public expenditure data rather than clinical medicine, no medical interventions, treatments, or health contraindications apply to this event. For public health inquiries regarding infectious disease protocols, consult official guidance from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) or the World Health Organization (WHO).
References
- Yonhap News Agency. “관광공사, 팬데믹 때도 해외지사 예산 증액…작년 200억원 넘겨.” August 24, 2026.
- Korea Tourism Organization. Annual Operational Expense Reports and Overseas Branch Staffing Data.
