Seoul, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – The Republic of Korea saw nearly 2 million international visitors in June alone, pushing the total number of foreign travelers entering the country in the first six months of the year past a significant milestone. Data released by the Emirates News Agency confirmed that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals exceeded 10 million in H1, driven by sustained double-digit growth across key regional source markets. According to statistics from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 1.99 million foreigners arrived in June, marking a 23.1 percent rise compared to the same month last year. This strong monthly increase brought the total for the first half of the year to 10.71 million visitors, 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 drivers of South Korea’s tourism growth. Data indicates that mainland China remained the leading source of international visitors, with 650,000 arrivals in June and the fastest year-on-year growth among major source countries. The cumulative figures for January to June show that Chinese tourists reached 3.21 million. Japan ranked second with 350,000 visitors in June, totaling 1.95 million for the first six months. Taiwan maintained its position as the third-largest source market, providing 220,000 arrivals in June and a total of 1.15 million visitors during the first half of the year.
Expanding the geographic reach beyond traditional East Asian markets has further fueled South Korea’s tourism recovery. Official data on arrivals from long-haul destinations indicated that North American visitors numbered 220,000 in June, with the United States accounting for 177,744 of those travelers and bringing the total U.S. inbound visitors to 810,000 in the first half. European countries contributed 120,000 arrivals during June, while the six leading Southeast Asian source nations, including the Philippines, collectively added 230,000 travelers. Notably, government analysts highlighted that visitor numbers from both Taiwan and the U.S. experienced particularly strong growth, increasing by over 160 percent compared to baseline figures from the first half of 2019, prior to the onset of global travel restrictions.
Regional Markets and Key Countries Lead Inbound Growth
Data on transportation logistics underscored that commercial flights remained the main entry mode for incoming travelers, with air travel accounting for 1.74 million foreign arrivals in June. Importantly, international entry patterns showed a rapid decentralization from Seoul, as regional airports experienced faster growth compared to the main gateways in the capital metropolitan area. Inbound 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, reaching 395,246 visitors in June. This growth significantly outpaced the 18.2 percent rise seen at primary gateways like Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport.
The notable rebound in international arrivals contributed to record-breaking economic gains for Korea’s hospitality and retail sectors during the first half of the year. Data from the Korea Tourism Organization revealed that foreign visitor credit card expenditures surpassed 6.8 billion U.S. dollars, setting a new all-time record for tourism revenue. Sector analysis noted that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals exceeded 10 million in H1, reaching the historic milestone of 6.8 billion U.S. dollars in spending roughly three months earlier than in 2025, when such expenditures only crossed that threshold in September.
Chinese Tourist Growth Mirrors Overall Travel Expansion
Authorities in charge of tourism credit the continued growth in inbound travel to targeted policy adjustments, increased airline routes, and the global appeal of Korean cultural exports. Initiatives such as extending temporary visa-free entry for organized Chinese tour groups and restoring international flight routes have directly eased entry procedures for short-term visitors. The Seoul AI Foundation’s urban planning reports indicate that foreign tourists are increasingly exploring destinations beyond the traditional capital landmarks, leading to double-digit growth at outdoor markets, cultural heritage sites, and hiking areas like Achasan and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Reaching the 10 million visitor mark before midyear reinforces government projections aiming for 22 million to 23 million international tourists by year’s end. Officials believe that momentum will accelerate further in the second half, bolstered by peak summer holidays, autumn festivals, and additional international flights connecting regional airports to major Asian cities. With foreign visitor figures already surpassing 2019 pre-pandemic levels by nearly 27 percent, tourism authorities are working closely with hospitality providers, regional governments, and transport companies to maintain infrastructure capacity and expand regional travel options nationwide.