Seoul, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – Nearly 2 million international tourists visited the Republic of Korea in June, propelling the total number of foreign arrivals during the initial six months of the year past a significant milestone. Data from the government, as reported by Emirates News Agency, confirms that Korea’s inbound tourist numbers surpassed 10 million in H1, driven by consistent double-digit growth across key regional source markets. According to figures from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 1.99 million foreigners arrived in June alone, reflecting a 23.1 percent increase over the same month in the previous year. This robust monthly growth pushed the total for the first half of the year to 10.71 million visitors, marking a 21.3 percent rise 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 growth. Data shows that mainland China remained the largest single source of international visitors, with 650,000 arrivals in June and posting the fastest year-on-year growth among major source countries. Total Chinese visitors for the first six months reached 3.21 million. Japan ranked second, with 350,000 arrivals in June, bringing its half-year total to 1.95 million. Taiwan maintained its position as the third-largest source market, registering 220,000 visitors during June and accumulating 1.15 million inbound travelers from January to June.
Expanding the geographic scope beyond traditional East Asian markets provided additional momentum for South Korea’s tourism recovery. Official data on arrivals indicated that long-haul visitors from North America reached 220,000 in June, with the United States contributing 177,744 of those travelers and bringing the U.S. inbound total to 810,000 for the first half of the year. European countries collectively contributed 120,000 visitors during June, while the six main Southeast Asian origin nations, including the Philippines, contributed a combined 230,000 travelers. Officials highlighted strong growth from Taiwan and the United States, with visitor numbers from both regions increasing by over 160 percent compared to the baseline figures from the first half of 2019, prior to global travel restrictions.
Regional Inbound Growth Led by China and Japan
Data from transportation logistics revealed that commercial air travel remained the primary route for incoming visitors, accounting for 1.74 million arrivals in June. Notably, international arrivals were increasingly decentralizing away from Seoul, with regional airports experiencing faster growth than the major gateways in the Seoul metropolitan area. June arrivals through regional airports—including Gimhae International Airport in Busan, Daegu International Airport, Jeju International Airport, and Cheongju International Airport—rose by 42.5 percent year-on-year to reach 395,246 visitors. This growth significantly outpaced the 18.2 percent increase at primary entry points such as Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport.
The rebound in international arrivals generated record-breaking revenue for South Korea’s hospitality and retail sectors in the first half of the year. According to financial metrics from the Korea Tourism Organization, foreign visitor credit card expenditure exceeded 6.8 billion U.S. dollars, setting a new tourism revenue record. Sector analysis indicated that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals surpassed 10 million in H1 while tourism-related spending reached the historic 6.8 billion U.S. dollar mark nearly three months earlier than 2025, when such expenditures did not exceed that level until September.
Chinese Tourist Numbers Boost Inbound Travel Growth Indicators
Officials from tourism authorities attribute the sustained growth in inbound travel to strategic regulatory changes, increased air route capacity, and the global appeal of Korean cultural exports. Policies like extending temporary visa-free entry for organized Chinese tour groups and reinstating international flight routes have directly eased access for short-term visitors. Urban development reports from the Seoul AI Foundation show that foreign travelers are increasingly exploring destinations beyond traditional capital landmarks, fueling double-digit growth at outdoor markets, cultural sites, and scenic spots such as Achasan and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Reaching 10 million arrivals by mid-year reinforces government forecasts of attracting between 22 million and 23 million international tourists by year-end. Officials expect travel momentum to intensify during the second half, supported by peak summer holidays, autumn festivals, and additional 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 governments, and transportation companies to maintain infrastructure capacity and broaden travel options across the country.