Administrative friction can prevent tourists from returning even when they enjoy a destination

South Korea's tourism industry faces a distinct behavioral gap where high visitor volume does not translate into long-term loyalty due to administrative friction. While approximately 5.48 million Chinese tourists visited the country in 2025, the repeat-visit rate was only 54.3%, trailing significantly behind Japan's 76.5% and Thailand's 79.2%. This disparity suggests that the transaction cost of reapplying for entry permits acts as a stronger deterrent than the quality of the travel experience itself.