Seoul, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – The Republic of Korea saw nearly 2 million foreign visitors in June, pushing the total number of international travelers entering the nation during the initial six months of the year past a significant milestone. Data from the government, published by Emirates News Agency, confirmed that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals surpassed 10 million in H1, driven by consistent double-digit growth from key regional markets. According to statistics from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, June alone welcomed 1.99 million foreign tourists, marking a 23.1 percent increase compared to the same month last year. This strong monthly growth brought the cumulative first-half figure to 10.71 million visitors, a 21.3 percent rise from the 8.8 million recorded during the same period in 2025, and it exceeded pre-pandemic 2019 levels by 26.9 percent.
Throughout the first half of the year, neighboring East Asian countries continued to serve as the main sources of growth for South Korea’s tourism sector. Inbound travel data indicates that mainland China remained the top source of international arrivals, with 650,000 visitors in June, and experienced the fastest year-on-year growth among major source markets. For the first half, Chinese travelers totaled 3.21 million. Japan ranked as the second-largest inbound market, with 350,000 visitors in June, bringing its half-year total to 1.95 million. Taiwan maintained its third-place position, contributing 220,000 arrivals in June and reaching a total of 1.15 million inbound visitors during the first six months.
Diversification of sources beyond traditional East Asian countries contributed further momentum to Korea’s tourism recovery. Official data revealed that long-haul arrivals from North America reached 220,000 in June, with the United States accounting for 177,744 of these travelers, resulting in a total of 810,000 American inbound visitors in the first half. European countries collectively contributed 120,000 arrivals during June, while six key Southeast Asian nations—including the Philippines—added a combined 230,000 travelers. Analysts pointed out that visitor numbers from both Taiwan and the U.S. experienced particularly robust growth, increasing by over 160 percent compared to baseline figures from the first half of 2019, prior to the global travel restrictions.
International Tourist Arrivals in the First Half Surpass Pre-Pandemic Levels
Data on transportation logistics reveals that commercial flights remain the primary entry route for visitors, with air travel accounting for 1.74 million foreign arrivals in June. Notably, international entry patterns show a shift away from Seoul, as regional airports experienced faster growth than the major gateways within the Seoul metropolitan area. Inbound travelers through regional airports such as 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 seen at primary capital entry points like Incheon and Gimpo International Airports.
The remarkable rebound in international arrivals has led to record-breaking earnings for Korea’s hospitality and retail sectors during the first half of the year. According to financial data published by the Korea Tourism Organization, foreign visitors’ credit card expenditures surpassed 6.8 billion U.S. dollars in the first six months, setting a new record for tourism revenue. Industry analysis highlights that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals exceeded 10 million in H1, with tourism spending reaching the historic 6.8 billion U.S. dollar mark nearly three months earlier than 2025, when such expenditures only surpassed that threshold in September.
June Sees 1.99 Million Foreign Visitors Arriving
Officials in charge of tourism attribute the sustained growth in inbound visitors to strategic policy adjustments, expanded air service capacity, and the increasing global appeal of Korean cultural exports. Measures such as extending temporary visa-free programs for organized Chinese tour groups and restoring international flight routes have simplified entry procedures for short-term visitors. Urban development reports from the Seoul AI Foundation indicate that foreign tourists are progressively exploring destinations outside traditional capital highlights, resulting in double-digit increases at outdoor markets, cultural heritage sites, and hiking spots like Achasan and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Hitting the 10 million visitor mark before midyear reinforces government forecasts aiming for 22 million to 23 million international arrivals by year-end. Officials expect the momentum of inbound travel to accelerate further in the second half, aided by peak summer holiday periods, fall festivals, and additional international flights connecting regional airports with major Asian cities. Already surpassing 2019 pre-pandemic figures by nearly 27 percent, tourism authorities continue collaborating with hospitality providers, regional governments, and transport companies to maintain infrastructure capacity and promote regional travel expansion nationwide.
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