Seoul, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – Nearly 2 million international visitors arrived in Republic of Korea in June, propelling the total foreign entries during the first half of the year beyond a significant threshold. Data released by Emirates News Agency confirmed that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals exceeded 10 million in H1, driven by consistent double-digit growth across major regional source markets. Statistics from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism indicate that June alone saw 1.99 million foreign visitors, a 23.1 percent rise compared to the same month last year. This strong monthly increase pushed the cumulative total to 10.71 million visitors in the first six months, representing a 21.3 percent growth 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, East Asian neighboring countries continued to be the primary contributors to South Korea’s tourism sector growth. Data shows that mainland China remained the top source of international arrivals, with 650,000 visitors in June, also displaying the fastest year-on-year growth among major source markets. For the January-June period, Chinese visitors totaled 3.21 million. Japan ranked second with 350,000 visitors in June, bringing its six-month tally to 1.95 million. Meanwhile, Taiwan held its position as the third-largest source market, contributing 220,000 arrivals in June and totaling 1.15 million travelers for the first half of the year.
Expanding beyond traditional East Asian markets gave further momentum to Korea’s international tourism recovery. Official entry data indicate that long-haul visitors from North America reached 220,000 in June, with the United States accounting for 177,744 and the total American inbound travelers reaching 810,000 in the first half. European countries collectively brought in 120,000 visitors during June, while the six main Southeast Asian source nations, including the Philippines, added up to 230,000 travelers. Analysts highlighted that both Taiwan and U.S. visitor numbers saw particularly strong growth, increasing by over 160 percent compared to baseline figures from the first half of 2019, prior to global travel restrictions.
International Tourist Numbers in H1 Exceed Pre-Pandemic Levels
Data from transportation logistics revealed that air travel remained the primary method for inbound arrivals, with June’s foreign visitor count through flights reaching 1.74 million. Notably, international entry patterns showed a quick shift away from the capital city, as regional airports experienced faster growth than the main gateways in the Seoul metropolitan area. Regional airports—including Gimhae International Airport in Busan, Daegu International Airport, Jeju International Airport, and Cheongju International Airport—saw a 42.5 percent increase year-on-year to 395,246 visitors in June. This growth significantly outpaced the 18.2 percent rise at key city hubs such as Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport.
The notable rebound in international arrivals generated record-breaking economic gains for South Korea’s hospitality and retail sectors during the first half of the year. The Korea Tourism Organization reported that foreign visitors’ credit card spending surpassed 6.8 billion U.S. dollars in the first six months, setting a new tourism revenue record. Sector analysis indicated that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals exceeded 10 million in H1, reaching the historic 6.8 billion U.S. dollar expenditure milestone roughly three months earlier than 2025, when such spending did not surpass that figure until September.
June’s Foreign Arrivals Hit 1.99 Million
Tourism authorities cite targeted policy adjustments, expanded flight routes, and the global popularity of Korean cultural exports as key factors behind the sustained travel increase. Measures such as extending temporary visa-free entry programs for organized Chinese tour groups and restoring international flight routes have simplified entry processes for short-term visitors. According to reports from the Seoul AI Foundation, foreign travelers are increasingly exploring destinations outside traditional capital landmarks, leading to double-digit growth at outdoor markets, cultural sites, and hiking trails like Achasan and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Reaching 10 million arrivals before mid-year bolsters government estimates of attracting between 22 million and 23 million international tourists by year-end. Officials expect the momentum to accelerate in the second half, supported by peak summer travel, autumn festivals, and increased international flights connecting regional airports with major Asian cities. With foreign visitor numbers already exceeding pre-pandemic 2019 levels by nearly 27 percent, tourism agencies continue collaborating with hospitality providers, regional administrations, and transportation companies to maintain infrastructure capacity and develop regional travel options across the country.