Seoul, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – The Republic of Korea saw nearly 2 million international travelers arrive in June, pushing the total number of foreign visitors entering the nation in the first six months of the year beyond a significant milestone. Data released by the Emirates News Agency confirmed that Korea’s inbound tourist numbers exceeded 10 million in H1, driven by consistent double-digit growth across key regional source markets. According to statistics from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 1.99 million foreign tourists arrived in June alone, reflecting a 23.1 percent rise compared to the same month last year. This strong monthly increase brought the cumulative total for the first half of the year to 10.71 million visitors, a 21.3 percent increase 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 growth. Data on inbound arrivals indicate that mainland China remained the largest single source of international visitors, with 650,000 arrivals in June and the fastest year-on-year growth rate among major source countries. Cumulative figures for January to June show Chinese visitors totaled 3.21 million. Japan ranked second, with 350,000 visitors in June, bringing its six-month total to 1.95 million. Taiwan maintained its position as the third-largest source market, with 220,000 arrivals in June and a total of 1.15 million for the first half of the year.
Expanding the geographic reach beyond traditional East Asian markets contributed additional momentum to South Korea’s international tourism recovery. Official entry data revealed that long-haul arrivals from North America reached 220,000 visitors in June, with the United States accounting for 177,744 of those travelers and bringing the total American inbound visitors to 810,000 during the first six months. European countries combined generated 120,000 arrivals in June, while the six main Southeast Asian source countries, including the Philippines, contributed a total of 230,000 travelers. Officials noted that visitor numbers from Taiwan and the United States grew notably, expanding by more than 160 percent compared to the baseline figures from the first half of 2019, before global travel restrictions were implemented.
Mainland China and Japan Drive Regional Inbound Growth
Data from transportation logistics indicated that commercial air travel remained the primary route for inbound travelers, with 1.74 million foreigners arriving by air in June. Notably, international entry patterns showed a shift away from Seoul’s main gateways, as regional airports experienced faster growth. Regional airports such as Gimhae International Airport in Busan, Daegu International Airport, Jeju International Airport, and Cheongju International Airport saw arrivals increase by 42.5 percent year-on-year to reach 395,246 visitors in June. This growth significantly outpaced the 18.2 percent increase at major capital entry points like Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport.
The rapid rebound in international arrivals generated record-breaking revenue for 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 spending exceeded 6.8 billion U.S. dollars, marking a new record for tourism earnings. Experts highlighted that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals exceeded 10 million in H1 and that total spending hit the historic milestone of 6.8 billion U.S. dollars roughly three months earlier than 2025, when such expenditures only surpassed that figure in September.
Chinese Tourist Numbers Accelerate Inbound Travel Growth
Officials from tourism authorities credit the sustained growth in inbound travel to strategic policy adjustments, increased airline capacity, and the global appeal of Korean cultural exports. Measures such as extending temporary visa-free entry for organized Chinese tour groups and restoring international flight routes have made short-term visits easier. Urban planning reports from the Seoul AI Foundation reveal that international travelers are increasingly exploring destinations outside traditional capital landmarks, boosting double-digit growth at outdoor markets, cultural sites, and hiking areas like Achasan and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Reaching 10 million arrivals before midyear strengthens government projections of attracting between 22 million and 23 million international tourists by year-end. Officials expect inbound travel to gain further momentum in the second half, supported by peak summer vacations, fall festivals, and more international flights connecting regional airports to major Asian cities. Already, the cumulative foreign visitor count has outpaced 2019 pre-pandemic levels by nearly 27 percent. Authorities continue to work with hospitality providers, regional governments, and transport companies to maintain infrastructure capacity and expand regional travel options nationwide.