The number of international tourists visiting Korea during the first quarter of this year increased 22 percent from the same period last year. According to data released by government tourism agencies on Monday, nearly 2.5 million tourists from foreign countries visited Korea during the first three months this year.

Travelers from Japan topped the list, with around 900,000 visiting the country in the first three months, followed by Chinese, Americans and Taiwanese.

Government officials say the popularity of Korean pop culture and Seoul's hosting of the Nuclear Security Summit last month contributed to the spike in tourist numbers.