Seoul, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – During the first half of the year, the Republic of Korea saw nearly 2 million international visitors come through its borders in June, pushing the total number of foreign travelers for the period beyond a significant threshold. Data released by the Emirates News Agency confirmed that Korea’s foreign tourist numbers exceeded 10 million in H1, driven by persistent double-digit increases across major regional markets. According to statistics from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 1.99 million foreign visitors arrived in June alone, representing a 23.1 percent rise compared to June of last year. This strong monthly increase brought the total arrivals in the first six months to 10.71 million, a 21.3 percent growth from the 8.8 million recorded during the same period in 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic levels from 2019 by 26.9 percent.
Throughout the initial half of the year, neighboring East Asian countries remained the main contributors to South Korea’s tourism growth. Data indicates that mainland China continued to be the top source of international travelers, with 650,000 arrivals in June and the fastest year-on-year growth among key source markets. The first-half figures show Chinese visitors totaled 3.21 million from January to June. Japan ranked second, with 350,000 arrivals in June and a six-month total of 1.95 million visitors. Taiwan held its position as the third-largest origin, contributing 220,000 arrivals in June and amassing 1.15 million visitors over the first half of the year.
Expanding beyond traditional East Asian markets has fueled South Korea’s tourism recovery further. Official data on entries revealed that long-haul arrivals from North America reached 220,000 in June, with the United States accounting for 177,744 of those travelers, bringing the total American inbound visitors to 810,000 for the first six months. European countries collectively brought in 120,000 visitors during June, while the six key Southeast Asian countries—including the Philippines—contributed a combined total of 230,000 travelers. Analysts pointed out that visitor numbers from both Taiwan and the U.S. showed particularly strong growth, increasing by over 160 percent compared to baseline figures from the first half of 2019, before global travel restrictions.
First Half Tourist Numbers Outperform Pre-Pandemic Levels
Data from the transportation sector indicates that commercial air travel remained the primary mode of entry for international visitors, with 1.74 million arriving by air in June. Notably, international arrivals are now becoming more decentralized, with regional airports experiencing faster growth than major gateways in the Seoul metropolitan area. June saw regional airports such as Gimhae International Airport in Busan, Daegu International Airport, Jeju International Airport, and Cheongju International Airport collectively welcoming 395,246 visitors, a 42.5 percent increase year-on-year. This growth significantly outpaced the 18.2 percent rise at dominant city airports like Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport.
The surge in international arrivals during the first half resulted in record-breaking revenue for Korea’s hospitality and retail sectors. According to figures published by the Korea Tourism Organization, foreign visitor credit card spending topped 6.8 billion U.S. dollars, setting a new tourism revenue record. Sector analyses show that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals surpassed 10 million in H1, with expenditures reaching the milestone of 6.8 billion U.S. dollars approximately three months earlier than in 2025, when such spending did not exceed that level until September.
June’s Arrival Figures Hit Nearly 2 Million Foreign Travelers
Tourism authorities attribute the ongoing growth in inbound travel to strategic policy adjustments, expanded air route capacity, and the rising global popularity of Korean cultural exports. Measures such as extending temporary visa-free programs for organized Chinese tour groups and restoring international flight routes have eased entry procedures for short-term visitors. Urban planning reports from the Seoul AI Foundation indicate that foreign tourists are increasingly exploring destinations beyond traditional capital sites, leading to double-digit growth at outdoor markets, cultural heritage locations, and hiking spots like Achasan and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Reaching the 10 million arrivals milestone before mid-year strengthens government forecasts of attracting 22 million to 23 million international tourists by year-end. Officials expect the momentum to accelerate during the second half, boosted by summer vacation peaks, autumn festivals, and additional international flights connecting regional airports to major Asian cities. With foreign visitor numbers already exceeding 2019 pre-pandemic figures by nearly 27 percent, tourism agencies are actively collaborating with hospitality providers, regional governments, and transportation services to maintain infrastructure capacity and broaden regional travel options across South Korea.