Busan is seeing a sharp rise in foreign tourists this year, raising expectations that it could surpass 4 million visitors.
The city recorded about 556,000 foreign visitors as of February, up nearly 40 percent from a year earlier.
In February alone, around 302,000 tourists visited, marking a significant increase.
Chinese visitors ranked first, overtaking Taiwan, with numbers rising steadily after years of decline.
More tourists are also arriving by cruise ships, contributing to the growth.
Visitors from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and China have all increased.
Officials said the upward trend in Busan is stronger than the national average, boosting hopes for a record-breaking year.
