Seoul, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – Nearly 2 million overseas tourists arrived in Republic of Korea during June, pushing the total number of international arrivals in the first half of the year beyond a significant threshold. Official figures released by Emirates News Agency confirm that Korea’s foreign visitor count exceeded 10 million in H1, driven by persistent double-digit growth from key regional markets. Data from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism show that 1.99 million foreigners visited in June alone, 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, a 21.3 percent increase from the 8.8 million in the same period of 2025 and surpassing pre-pandemic 2019 levels by 26.9 percent.
Throughout the first half of this year, East Asian neighboring countries remained the main contributors to South Korea’s tourism growth. Data on inbound arrivals reveal that mainland China continued to be the top source of international visitors, with 650,000 arrivals in June and the highest year-over-year growth rate among major source countries. Chinese visitors totaled 3.21 million from January to June. Japan was the second-largest inbound destination with 350,000 visitors in June, bringing its six-month total to 1.95 million. Taiwan maintained its position as the third-largest source, with 220,000 arrivals in June and a total of 1.15 million travelers for the first half of the year.
Expanding the geographic reach beyond traditional East Asian markets further bolstered South Korea’s tourism recovery. Official entry data indicated that long-haul travelers from North America numbered 220,000 in June, with the United States accounting for 177,744 of these arrivals and the total American inbound market reaching 810,000 for the first half. European countries collectively contributed 120,000 arrivals in June, while the six main Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, accounted for 230,000 visitors. Analysts highlighted that visitor numbers from Taiwan and the U.S. saw particularly vigorous growth, increasing by over 160 percent compared to baseline figures from the first half of 2019, before global travel restrictions were implemented.
Mainland China and Japan Continue to Drive Regional Tourism Growth
Data from transport and logistics reveal that commercial air travel remained the leading method for inbound arrivals, with 1.74 million foreign visitors arriving by air in June. Importantly, the pattern of international arrivals shows a rapid shift away from the capital, as regional airports experienced faster growth compared to major gateways in Seoul. Arrivals at regional airports—including Gimhae International Airport in Busan, Daegu International Airport, Jeju International Airport, and Cheongju International Airport—rose 42.5 percent year-on-year to reach 395,246 visitors in June. This increase significantly outpaced the 18.2 percent growth at primary city gateways such as Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport.
The surge in international arrivals generated record-breaking revenues for South Korea’s hospitality and retail sectors during the first half of the year. According to financial data from the Korea Tourism Organization, foreign visitors’ credit card expenditures exceeded 6.8 billion U.S. dollars, setting a new record for tourism income. Industry analysis indicates that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals exceeded 10 million in H1, reaching the historic milestone of 6.8 billion U.S. dollars in spending about three months earlier than in 2025, when such expenditures did not surpass that mark until September.
Chinese Tourist Numbers Bolster International Travel Growth Trends
Officials from tourism authorities attribute this continued growth to targeted policy adjustments, expanded air route capacity, and the rising global interest in Korean cultural exports. Measures such as extending temporary visa-free programs for organized Chinese tour groups and restoring international flight routes have directly facilitated easier access for short-term visitors. Reports from the Seoul AI Foundation indicate that more foreign travelers are exploring destinations beyond traditional capital landmarks, leading to double-digit increases in visitors to outdoor markets, cultural heritage sites, and hiking trails such as Achasan and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Reaching 10 million arrivals before midyear affirms government expectations to attract between 22 million and 23 million international tourists by year’s end. Officials expect the growth momentum will accelerate in the second half, supported by peak summer travel, fall festivals, and additional international flights connecting regional airports to major Asian cities. With foreign visitor numbers already exceeding pre-pandemic 2019 levels by nearly 27 percent, tourism agencies continue collaborating with hospitality providers, regional governments, and transport operators to maintain infrastructure capacity and promote regional travel expansion across the country.