SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – South Korea reported a tourism surplus of $596.6 million for June 2026, marking its most substantial monthly gain since the onset of COVID-19. This figure represents a $1.44 billion increase compared to June 2025, which saw an $846.8 million deficit. According to Korea Tourism Organization figures, June’s result ranks as the second-highest monthly tourism surplus ever recorded. The only month with a higher surplus was October 2008, at $661.5 million.
Following a 72-month streak of deficits from March 2020 through February 2026, the tourism balance turned positive in March with a $263.8 million surplus. Prior to that, January posted a $1.4034 billion shortfall, with February at a $1.0993 billion deficit. The positive trend persisted through April at $159.9 million and May at $220.5 million, leading into the June improvement.
In June, tourism revenues reached $2.784 billion, while expenses related to tourism were $2.1874 billion. During this period, foreign visitors spent an average of $1,397 each, whereas South Korean outbound travelers spent an average of $1,091 per person. This difference between income and outgoings resulted in a fourth consecutive monthly surplus, signifying a notable turnaround from the deficits seen earlier in 2026.
Inbound visitor numbers surge significantly in June
South Korea hosted 1,993,128 international tourists during June, reflecting a 23.1% rise compared to the same month last year, as reported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. China remained the top source market with 649,582 visitors, an increase of 36.2% from June 2025. Japan followed with 348,216 arrivals, up 21.3%. Taiwan accounted for 223,127 visitors, while arrivals from the Americas reached 219,948, and Europe contributed 119,445.
In the first half of 2026, international visitor numbers totaled 10,709,919, representing a 21% increase year-over-year. Credit card spending by foreign tourists hit 10.0389 trillion won, up 50.8% during this period. Specifically, June alone saw 2.0544 trillion won in card transactions, which is a 66.4% increase compared to the previous year. Additionally, the Korea Tourism Organization recorded 395,246 international arrivals through regional airports in June, an increase of 42.5%.
Growth in tourism expenditure parallels visitor numbers
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism also highlighted an expansion from markets outside Korea’s primary Asian sources. Arrivals from the Americas reached 1,077,287 during the first half of the year, an increase of 12.7% from the previous year. European arrivals grew by 20.2%, totaling 738,943 visitors, with other long-haul regions also seeing gains. The United States contributed 811,974 visitors through June, up 11.1%, while Canada brought in 157,003, marking a 17.1% rise.
This June surplus follows three consecutive years in which South Korea faced annual tourism deficits exceeding $10 billion. Those deficits amounted to $10.38 billion in 2023, $10.21 billion in 2024, and $10.76 billion in 2025. As of June 2026, the tourism balance had remained positive for four months straight. The June receipts surpassed tourism expenses by $596.6 million, establishing the largest monthly tourism surplus since the pandemic and the second-largest on record.
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