The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Aug. 2 said the capital topped the Favorite Worldwide City category among millennials and Gen Z at the Trazees, or honors hosted by the U.S.-based media outlet Trazee Travel. Shown is a visitor on Dec. 10, 2025, taking a selfie at an alley of Euljiro Street in Seoul’s Jung-gu District. (Korea.net DB)
By Xu Aiying
For the fifth straight year, Seoul is the world’s favorite city among millennials and Gen Z.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization on Aug. 2 said the capital topped the Favorite Worldwide City category at this year’s Trazees, or honors given by the U.S.-based media outlet Trazee Travel.
Starting in 2022, Seoul is the world’s first city to remain atop the category for five straight years. The city also received the Quint Status for winning consecutive honors and was inducted into the Trazees’ Hall of Fame. Dublin (Ireland), Hong Kong, London and Athens in that order comprised the rest of the top five.
The city government attributed Seoul’s popularity among young visitors to “lifestyle tourism,” which allows them to experience the daily lives and preferences of residents rather than simply visit major tourist attractions, as well as urban hiking destinations on mountains like Bukhansan, Bugaksan and Achasan.
On July 22, the Seoul AI Foundation in a study said the number of foreign visitors to major tourist spots surged last year, with trips to Dongdaemun Design Plaza rising 12.1%, Achasan Mountain 11.8%, the Hongik University Station (Hongdae) area and Naksan Park 10.5% each, Gwangjang Market 10.4% and Gwanaksan Mountain 10%.
Marking their 12th year, the Trazees are selected through reader voting conducted by the media outlet. This year’s results were based on votes from those ages 25-40, a core consumer demographic for the global travel market.
xuaiy@korea.kr
