Seoul, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – The Republic of Korea saw nearly 2 million international tourists arrive in June, pushing the total number of foreign visitors entering the country during the first six months of the year beyond a significant milestone. Data from the government, published by Emirates News Agency, confirms that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals exceeded 10 million in H1, driven by consistent double-digit growth in key regional markets. According to statistics from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 1.99 million foreign visitors came in June alone, marking a 23.1 percent rise compared to the same month last year. This strong monthly increase brought the cumulative first-half total to 10.71 million arrivals, a 21.3 percent rise from the 8.8 million recorded during the same period in 2025, and it surpassed pre-pandemic 2019 levels by 26.9 percent.
Throughout the first half of the year, East Asian neighboring countries continued to be the primary drivers of South Korea’s tourism recovery. Data on inbound travel indicates that mainland China remained the largest single source of international visitors, with 650,000 arrivals in June, also showing the fastest year-on-year growth among major source markets. The cumulative total for Chinese tourists from January to June reached 3.21 million. Japan ranked second as an inbound destination, with 350,000 visitors in June, totaling 1.95 million for the first half of the year. Taiwan held its position as the third-largest source country, contributing 220,000 arrivals in June and reaching a total of 1.15 million visitors over the first six months.
Expanding beyond traditional East Asian markets has given additional momentum to Korea’s international tourism rebound. Official figures show that long-haul arrivals from North America hit 220,000 visitors in June, with the United States accounting for 177,744 of those, bringing the U.S. inbound total to 810,000 visitors in the first half. European countries collectively contributed 120,000 arrivals in June, while the six main Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, added up to 230,000 travelers. Analysts noted that the visitor volume from Taiwan and the U.S. experienced particularly strong growth, increasing by more than 160 percent compared to baseline figures from the first half of 2019, before global travel restrictions were put in place.
First Half of the Year Sees International Tourist Numbers Outperform Pre-Pandemic Levels
Data on transportation logistics shows that commercial aviation continues to be the main route for inbound travelers, with air travel accounting for 1.74 million foreign arrivals in June. Notably, international entry trends indicate a swift decentralization from Seoul, as regional airports experienced accelerated growth relative to the major gateways in the Seoul metropolitan area. Arrivals 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 hubs like Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport.
The surge in international arrivals generated unprecedented revenue for Korea’s hospitality and retail sectors in the first half of the year. According to financial metrics published by the Korea Tourism Organization, foreign visitor credit card spending surpassed 6.8 billion U.S. dollars, setting a new record for tourism income. The analysis highlights that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals in H1 hit 10 million while reaching the historic milestone of 6.8 billion U.S. dollars in card expenditures about three months earlier than in 2025, when such spending did not exceed that amount until September.
June Sees Nearly 2 Million Foreign Travelers Arriving in Korea
Authorities in charge of tourism attribute the continued growth in inbound visitors to strategic policy changes, expanded air routes, and the global popularity of Korean cultural exports. Measures such as extending temporary visa-free programs for organized Chinese tour groups and restoring international flight connections have eased entry procedures for short-term travelers. Urban development reports from the Seoul AI Foundation show that tourists are increasingly exploring destinations outside the traditional capital landmarks, leading to double-digit growth at outdoor markets, cultural sites, and hiking spots like Achasan and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Reaching the 10 million mark before the halfway point of the year bolsters government expectations of attracting between 22 million and 23 million international visitors by year-end. Officials from the Ministry anticipate that travel momentum will grow further in the second half, aided by peak summer holidays, autumn festivals, and additional international flights linking regional airports to key Asian cities. With foreign visitor numbers already exceeding 2019 pre-pandemic levels by nearly 27 percent, tourism agencies are actively collaborating with hospitality providers, regional authorities, and transportation companies to maintain infrastructure capacity and expand regional travel options across the country.