Seoul, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – In June, the Republic of Korea experienced a significant influx of nearly 2 million international tourists, marking a pivotal point in the country’s tourism sector. Official data from the government, released by Emirates News Agency, confirms that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals surpassed 10 million in the first half of the year, driven by consistent double-digit growth in key regional markets. According to statistics from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, June alone saw 1.99 million foreign visitors, a 23.1 percent rise from the same month last year. This strong monthly growth pushed the cumulative total for the first six months to 10.71 million arrivals, representing a 21.3 percent increase from the 8.8 million recorded during the same period in 2025 and surpassing pre-pandemic 2019 levels by 26.9 percent.
Throughout the first half of the year, neighboring East Asian countries remained the main drivers of South Korea’s tourism rebound. Data on international arrivals shows that mainland China continued to be the largest single source, with 650,000 arrivals in June and the fastest growth rate among major source countries on a year-over-year basis. The six-month cumulative figure for Chinese visitors reached 3.21 million. Japan ranked second, contributing 350,000 visitors in June, with a total of 1.95 million inbound travelers in the first half. Taiwan held its position as the third-largest origin, with 220,000 arrivals in June and a total of 1.15 million visitors over the first six months of the year.
Expanding beyond traditional East Asian markets provided further momentum for South Korea’s international tourism recovery. Official data indicated that long-haul arrivals from North America reached 220,000 visitors in June, with the United States accounting for 177,744 of those travelers, bringing the total American inbound market to 810,000 visitors for the first half. European nations collectively contributed 120,000 arrivals in June, while the six primary Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, added a combined total of 230,000 travelers. Officials highlighted that visitor numbers from both Taiwan and the United States grew notably, with increases of more than 160 percent compared to baseline figures from the first half of 2019, prior to global travel restrictions.
International Tourist Arrivals in the First Half Exceed Pre-Pandemic Levels
Data on transportation logistics reveals that commercial flights remain the main route for inbound travelers, with 1.74 million foreigners arriving by air in June. Notably, international entry patterns show a shift away from Seoul, as regional airports experienced accelerated growth compared to major gateways like Seoul. Arrivals through regional airports, including Gimhae International Airport in Busan, Daegu International Airport, Jeju International Airport, and Cheongju International Airport, increased by 42.5 percent year-on-year to reach 395,246 visitors in June. This growth significantly outpaced the 18.2 percent increase at primary entry points such as Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport.
The remarkable rise in international arrivals generated historic revenue figures for Korea’s hospitality and retail sectors during the year’s first half. According to data from the Korea Tourism Organization, foreign visitors’ credit card spending exceeded 6.8 billion U.S. dollars, setting a new record for tourism income. Analysis shows that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals exceeded 10 million in H1 and reached a historic milestone of 6.8 billion U.S. dollars in expenditure about three months earlier than 2025, when such spending did not surpass this threshold until September.
June Sees 1.99 Million Foreign Visitors Arrive in Korea
Tourism authorities attribute this ongoing growth to strategic policy adjustments, expanded flight routes, and the global appeal of Korean cultural exports. Measures like extending temporary visa-free entry for organized Chinese tour groups and restoring international flight routes directly eased entry procedures for short-term visitors. Urban planning reports from the Seoul AI Foundation reveal that foreign tourists are increasingly exploring beyond traditional capital landmarks, contributing to double-digit increases at outdoor markets, cultural heritage sites, and hiking spots like Achasan and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Achieving the 10 million arrival figure before midyear supports government forecasts of reaching 22 million to 23 million international tourists by year-end. Officials expect the momentum to intensify during the second half, bolstered by peak summer holidays, autumn festivals, and additional international flight routes linking regional airports with major Asian cities. With foreign visitor numbers already surpassing 2019 pre-pandemic levels by nearly 27 percent, tourism agencies continue collaborating with hospitality providers, regional authorities, and transportation companies to maintain infrastructure capacity and develop more regional travel options nationwide.