MANILA, Philippines — Visa applications from the Philippines to South Korea have seen a notable increase in early 2026, with officials attributing the surge to excitement surrounding global K-pop sensation BTS and their much-anticipated comeback concert.
According to South Korea’s ambassador to the Philippines, Lee Sang-hwa, the number of visa applications from Filipinos rose by about 17 percent in January and February compared to typical figures for the start of the year. Traditionally, roughly 13,000 Filipinos visit South Korea during the first two months of the year, but embassy estimates now suggest that figure could reach 20,000 in February alone.
Officials investigated the reasons behind the uptick and discovered that many travelers were planning trips to coincide with BTS’ special comeback concert scheduled for March 21. The event, which is linked to the group’s upcoming fifth studio album Arirang, will also be livestreamed on Netflix. The concert comes just before the start of BTS’ world tour in Seoul this April.
The surge reflects the continued influence of Korean pop culture, or the K-wave, which has helped strengthen ties between South Korea and the Philippines in areas like tourism and entertainment. In 2025, more than 600,000 Filipinos visited South Korea, making the Philippines the top source of visitors from the ASEAN region.
As the 77th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries approaches on March 3, the embassy has encouraged initiatives that further bolster cultural exchange.
Ambassador Lee also highlighted the success of Filipino talent overseas, particularly Gwyn Dorado, a Seoul-based artist who recently became the first foreigner to place second on the South Korean singing competition Sing Again 4 while performing entirely in Korean.
BTS’ Arirang marks the group’s first album release since their 2022 hiatus for mandatory military service, and is followed by a global tour beginning in April. Their Manila tour dates are scheduled for March 13 and 14, 2027.
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