Seoul, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – The Republic of Korea recorded nearly 2 million international arrivals in June, propelling the total number of foreign travelers entering the country during the first six months of the year beyond a significant milestone. Official data from the government, published by Emirates News Agency, confirms that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals surpassed 10 million in H1, driven by consistent double-digit growth in key regional markets. Data compiled by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism indicates that 1.99 million foreigners visited in June alone, marking a 23.1 percent rise compared to the same month last year. This strong monthly growth pushed the total for the first half to 10.71 million visitors, representing a 21.3 percent increase 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 main drivers of South Korea’s tourism recovery. Data on inbound travel shows that mainland China remained the top source of international visitors, with 650,000 arrivals in June and the fastest year-over-year growth among major source countries. The cumulative figures for January to June reveal that Chinese visitors totaled 3.21 million. Japan ranked second, with 350,000 arrivals in June, bringing its six-month total to 1.95 million visitors. Taiwan maintained its third-place position, with 220,000 arrivals in June and a total of 1.15 million inbound visitors for the first half of the year.
Expanding the geographic reach beyond traditional East Asian markets provided additional momentum to South Korea’s tourism rebound. Official entry data shows that long-haul arrivals from North America reached 220,000 in June, with the United States accounting for 177,744 of those travelers, resulting in a total American inbound market of 810,000 visitors during the first half. European countries collectively contributed 120,000 arrivals in June, while the six key Southeast Asian origins, including the Philippines, added up to 230,000 travelers. Analysts from the government highlighted that visitor numbers from both Taiwan and the United States experienced particularly rapid growth, increasing by more than 160 percent compared to baseline figures from the first half of 2019 before global travel restrictions were implemented.
Mainland China and Japan Drive Regional Inbound Expansion
Transport and logistics data show that commercial air travel remained the primary route for inbound travelers, with 1.74 million foreign arrivals by air in June. Notably, international entry patterns reveal a swift decentralization away from Seoul, as regional airports experienced faster growth relative to the country’s main gateways. 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 increase at key entry points like Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport.
The resurgence in international arrivals generated record-breaking economic benefits for Korea’s hospitality and retail sectors during the first half of the year. According to financial data from the Korea Tourism Organization, foreign visitor credit card spending surpassed 6.8 billion U.S. dollars, setting a new record for tourism revenue. Sector analyses reveal that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals exceeded 10 million in H1, with spending reaching the historic 6.8 billion U.S. dollar mark roughly three months earlier than in 2025, when such expenditures only crossed that threshold in September.
Chinese Tourist Numbers Support Growth in Inbound Travel
Authorities in charge of tourism attribute the ongoing growth in inbound travel to strategic regulatory changes, increased air route capacity, and the rising global popularity of Korean cultural exports. Initiatives such as extending temporary visa-free entry for organized Chinese tour groups and restoring international flight connections have directly eased entry for short-term visitors. Urban planning reports from the Seoul AI Foundation indicate that foreign travelers are increasingly exploring beyond traditional capital landmarks, resulting in double-digit visitor increases at outdoor markets, cultural sites, and hiking spots like Achasan and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Reaching over 10 million arrivals before mid-year affirms government projections to attract between 22 million and 23 million international tourists by year-end. Officials believe that the momentum will grow in the second half of the year, boosted by peak summer holidays, autumn festivals, and additional international flights connecting regional airports with major Asian cities. With foreign visitor totals already surpassing pre-pandemic 2019 levels by nearly 27 percent, tourism authorities continue collaborating with hospitality businesses, regional governments, and transportation providers to maintain infrastructure capacity and develop new regional travel routes nationwide.