Seoul, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – As part of its ongoing recovery from global travel disruptions, the Republic of Korea experienced a significant influx of international tourists, with nearly 2 million arrivals recorded in June alone. This surge propelled the total number of foreign visitors entering Korea in the first six months of the year beyond a notable milestone. Data officially released by Emirates News Agency confirmed that Korea’s foreign tourist numbers surpassed 10 million in H1, driven by consistent double-digit growth across key regional markets. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s statistics show that 1.99 million foreign visitors arrived in June, marking a 23.1 percent rise compared to the same month last year. This monthly increase helped push the cumulative first-half total to 10.71 million visitors, reflecting a 21.3 percent growth from the 8.8 million recorded during the same period in 2025 and surpassing the pre-pandemic 2019 baseline by 26.9 percent.
Throughout the first half of the year, East Asian neighboring countries continued to serve as primary contributors to Korea’s tourism growth. Data shows mainland China remained the leading source of inbound visitors, with 650,000 arrivals in June, also recording the fastest year-on-year growth among major source countries. The cumulative count for Chinese visitors from January to June reached 3.21 million. Japan followed as the second-largest inbound market, with 350,000 visitors in June, leading to a six-month total of 1.95 million travelers. Meanwhile, Taiwan maintained its third-place position, with 220,000 arrivals in June and a total of 1.15 million visitors over the first half of the year.
Diversification beyond traditional East Asian markets has further bolstered South Korea’s tourism revival. Official data on arrivals from long-haul destinations indicated that North American visitors numbered 220,000 in June, with the United States accounting for 177,744 of these arrivals, bringing the total U.S. inbound visitors to 810,000 in the first half. European countries collectively contributed 120,000 visitors in June, while the six main Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, provided a combined total of 230,000 travelers. Officials noted that visitor numbers from both Taiwan and the U.S. experienced particularly rapid growth, increasing by more than 160 percent compared to baseline figures from the first half of 2019, prior to global travel restrictions.
Mainland China and Japan Drive Regional Tourism Expansion
Transport data underscores that commercial aviation remains the primary route for international arrivals, with air travel accounting for 1.74 million foreign visitors in June. Notably, the data also reveals a shift in entry patterns, with regional airports gaining prominence over the traditional gateways in Seoul. Arrivals via 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 to reach 395,246 visitors in June. This growth considerably outpaced the 18.2 percent rise seen at major capital entry points like Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport.
The notable rebound in international arrivals has translated into record-breaking financial gains for Korea’s hospitality and retail sectors in the first half of the year. According to data from the Korea Tourism Organization, foreign visitors’ credit card expenditures surpassed 6.8 billion U.S. dollars, setting a new record for tourism revenue. Analysts highlight that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals exceeded 10 million in H1, reaching a historic expenditure milestone of 6.8 billion U.S. dollars roughly three months earlier than in 2025, when such spending did not surpass that amount until September.
Chinese Tourist Numbers Continue to Drive Growth in Inbound Travel
Officials in the tourism sector attribute this sustained growth to targeted policy adjustments, expanded airline routes, and the rising global popularity of Korean cultural exports. Policies such as extending temporary visa-free programs for organized Chinese tour groups and restoring international flight routes have directly eased entry for short-term visitors. The Seoul AI Foundation’s urban planning reports reveal that foreign tourists are increasingly exploring destinations beyond traditional capital attractions, leading to double-digit increases at outdoor markets, cultural heritage sites, and hiking spots like Achasan and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Hitting the 10 million foreign visitor milestone before the year’s midpoint reinforces government forecasts aiming for 22 million to 23 million international tourists by year-end. Officials expect the inbound travel momentum to accelerate during the second half, supported by peak summer vacations, autumn festivals, and additional international flights connecting regional airports to major Asian cities. With the total number of foreign arrivals already surpassing pre-pandemic levels from 2019 by nearly 27 percent, tourism authorities are actively coordinating with hospitality providers, regional governments, and transportation companies to maintain infrastructure capacity and expand regional travel options nationwide.