Seoul, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – The Republic of Korea recorded nearly 2 million international visitors in June, marking a significant milestone as the total number of foreign travelers arriving during the first half of the year exceeded 10 million. Data released by the Emirates News Agency confirmed that Korea’s foreign tourist numbers topped 10 million in H1, supported by consistent double-digit growth across major regional source markets. Figures from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism show that June alone saw 1.99 million foreign visitors, a 23.1 percent rise compared to the same month last year. This strong monthly increase brought the total for the first six months to 10.71 million arrivals, which is a 21.3 percent increase from the 8.8 million recorded during the same period in 2025 and surpasses pre-pandemic 2019 levels by 26.9 percent.
Throughout the first half of the year, East Asian neighboring nations remained the leading contributors to South Korea’s tourism recovery. Visitor data shows that mainland China stayed the top source of international arrivals, with 650,000 visitors in June, and experienced the fastest year-on-year growth among major source markets. In total, Chinese visitors numbered 3.21 million during the first half of the year. Japan ranked second with 350,000 arrivals in June, bringing its six-month total to 1.95 million visitors. Taiwan held its position as the third-largest source, contributing 220,000 visitors in June and accumulating 1.15 million arrivals from January to June.
Expanding beyond traditional East Asian markets provided additional momentum for South Korea’s tourism recovery. Official data on arrivals from long-haul markets indicated that North American visitors reached 220,000 in June. The United States contributed 177,744 of those travelers, and the American inbound market total for the first half of the year reached 810,000. European arrivals totaled 120,000 during June, while the six main Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, collectively brought in 230,000 travelers. Analysts highlighted that visitor numbers from Taiwan and the United States experienced particularly strong growth, increasing by over 160 percent compared to baseline figures from the first half of 2019, prior to global travel restrictions.
China and Japan Continue to Drive Regional Tourism Expansion
Transport data confirmed that air travel remained the leading route for inbound travelers, with 1.74 million foreign arrivals by air in June. Notably, international entry patterns showed a decentralization trend away from Seoul’s main gateways, as regional airports experienced faster growth compared to major airports like Incheon and Gimpo. In June, regional airports such as Gimhae International Airport in Busan, Daegu International Airport, Jeju International Airport, and Cheongju International Airport saw a combined increase of 42.5 percent year-on-year, reaching 395,246 visitors. This growth far outpaced the 18.2 percent increase at primary capital airports.
The rebound in international arrivals generated record-breaking financial gains for Korea’s hospitality and retail sectors in the first half of the year. Data from the Korea Tourism Organization indicated that foreign visitor credit card spending surpassed 6.8 billion U.S. dollars, setting a new tourism revenue record. Sector analysis noted that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals exceeded 10 million in H1 and reached a historic spending milestone of 6.8 billion U.S. dollars about three months earlier than in 2025, when such expenditures did not surpass that level until September.
Chinese Tourist Numbers Accelerate Inbound Travel Metrics
Authorities overseeing tourism attribute the ongoing growth in inbound travel to targeted policy changes, increased air route capacities, and the global appeal of Korean cultural exports. Measures such as extending temporary visa-free programs for organized Chinese tour groups and restoring international flight routes directly eased entry procedures for short-term visitors. Insights from the Seoul AI Foundation revealed that foreign travelers are increasingly exploring destinations outside traditional capital landmarks, leading to double-digit increases in visitors to outdoor markets, heritage sites, and hiking spots like Achasan and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Reaching the 10 million foreign arrival mark before midyear bolsters government forecasts of attracting 22 million to 23 million international tourists by year-end. Officials project that the growth momentum will continue into the second half, aided by peak summer vacations, autumn festivals, and additional international flights connecting regional airports with major Asian cities. With foreign arrivals already exceeding 2019 pre-pandemic levels by nearly 27 percent, tourism authorities are actively collaborating with hotels, regional governments, and transport providers to maintain infrastructure capacity and promote regional travel networks nationwide.