Seoul, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – During the first six months of the year, the Republic of Korea saw nearly 2 million international tourists visit in June alone, pushing the total number of foreign arrivals past a significant milestone. Official figures released by Emirates News Agency confirmed that Korea’s foreign tourist entries surpassed 10 million in H1, driven by consistent double-digit growth across major regional markets. Data from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism indicate that June alone contributed 1.99 million foreign visitors, representing a 23.1 percent rise compared to the same month in the previous year. This strong monthly increase brought the total for the first half of the year to 10.71 million visitors, reflecting 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.
As the first half progressed, neighboring East Asian countries continued to be the primary sources fueling South Korea’s tourism rebound. Data on inbound travel shows that mainland China remained the leading source, with 650,000 arrivals in June and the fastest growth rate among major source countries. Cumulative figures for the first half reveal that Chinese visitors reached 3.21 million from January to June. Japan ranked second with 350,000 visitors in June, bringing its six-month total to 1.95 million. Meanwhile, Taiwan maintained its position as the third-largest origin, contributing 220,000 arrivals in June and totaling 1.15 million visitors during the first half of the year.
Expanding beyond traditional East Asian markets played a vital role in boosting South Korea’s international tourism recovery. Official statistics show that long-haul arrivals from North America reached 220,000 in June, with the United States accounting for 177,744 and pushing the American inbound total to 810,000 for the first six months. European countries collectively welcomed 120,000 visitors in June, while the six leading Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, added a combined 230,000 travelers. Notably, growth from both Taiwan and the U.S. was particularly strong, increasing over 160 percent compared to baseline figures from the first half of 2019, prior to worldwide travel restrictions.
Mainland China and Japan Drive Regional Tourism Expansion
In June, transport data indicated that air travel remained the predominant mode of entry for foreign visitors, with 1.74 million arriving via commercial flights. Significantly, patterns in international arrivals showed a shift away from Seoul’s main gateways, as regional airports experienced faster growth. Arrivals through airports like Gimhae International in Busan, Daegu International, Jeju International, and Cheongju International increased by 42.5 percent year-on-year to reach 395,246 visitors in June. This growth considerably outpaced the 18.2 percent increase at central hubs such as Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport.
The surge in international arrivals generated record-breaking revenue for Korea’s hospitality and retail sectors in the first half. According to financial metrics from the Korea Tourism Organization, foreign visitor credit card spending exceeded 6.8 billion U.S. dollars, setting a new tourism revenue record. Sector analyses reveal that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals topped 10 million in H1, with spending reaching the historic 6.8 billion U.S. dollar mark about three months earlier than in 2025, when such expenditure did not cross that threshold until September.
Chinese Tourists Continue to Lead Growth in Inbound Travel Figures
Officials in charge of tourism attribute the steady increase in inbound travel to strategic policy changes, expanded flight routes, and the global appeal of Korean cultural exports. Policies such as extending temporary visa-free programs for organized Chinese tour groups and restoring international flight routes have eased entry for short-term visitors. Reports from Seoul’s AI Foundation indicate that foreign tourists are increasingly exploring beyond traditional capital landmarks, leading to double-digit growth at outdoor markets, cultural sites, and hiking spots like Achasan and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Achieving the 10 million visitor milestone by midyear affirms government forecasts aiming for 22 million to 23 million tourists by year’s end. Officials expect travel momentum to accelerate in the latter half of 2023, boosted by summer holidays, fall festivals, and additional international flights connecting regional airports to key Asian cities. With foreign arrivals already exceeding pre-pandemic 2019 levels by nearly 27 percent, tourism authorities are working closely with hospitality providers, regional authorities, and transportation companies to maintain infrastructure capacity and diversify regional travel options nationwide.