Seoul, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – During the first six months of the year, the Republic of Korea recorded nearly 2 million foreign visitors in June alone. This milestone contributed to the total number of international arrivals entering the country exceeding 10 million in H1, supported by consistent double-digit increases from key regional markets. Official data from the government, as published by Emirates News Agency, confirmed that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals crossed the 10 million mark in H1 following these sustained gains. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s statistics reveal that June alone saw 1.99 million foreign tourists, a 23.1 percent rise compared to June of the previous year. This strong monthly surge brought the cumulative visitor count for the first half of the year to 10.71 million, representing a 21.3 percent increase from the 8.8 million recorded in the same period of 2025 and surpassing pre-pandemic 2019 levels by 26.9 percent.
Throughout the initial half of the year, East Asian neighboring nations continued to be the main drivers behind South Korea’s tourism growth. Data on inbound travelers indicate that mainland China remained the largest single source of international visitors, with 650,000 arrivals in June and the fastest year-on-year growth rate among major source countries. Cumulative figures for the first six months show Chinese visitors reached a total of 3.21 million. Japan ranked as the second-largest inbound market, contributing 350,000 visitors in June and bringing its six-month total to 1.95 million. Meanwhile, Taiwan held onto its position as the third-largest origin, with 220,000 arrivals during June and a total of 1.15 million inbound visitors in the first half of the year.
Expanding beyond traditional East Asian markets, broader geographic sources added further momentum to South Korea’s tourism revival. Official entry statistics show that long-haul arrivals from North America reached 220,000 visitors in June. The United States accounted for 177,744 of these, pushing the total American inbound travelers to 810,000 during the first half of the year. European countries collectively brought in 120,000 visitors in June, while the six main Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, contributed a combined 230,000 travelers. Officials highlighted particularly strong growth from both Taiwan and the United States, with visitor numbers increasing by more than 160 percent compared to baseline figures from the first half of 2019, prior to the global travel restrictions.
Mainland China and Japan Continue to Drive Regional Tourism Expansion
Transport data shows that commercial aviation remained the primary route for inbound visitors, with air travel accounting for 1.74 million foreign arrivals in June. Notably, international entry patterns reveal a swift decentralization from Seoul’s major gateways, as regional airports experienced faster growth. Regional airports including Gimhae International Airport in Busan, Daegu International Airport, Jeju International Airport, and Cheongju International Airport saw a 42.5 percent year-on-year increase in arrivals, totaling 395,246 visitors in June. This growth significantly outpaced the 18.2 percent rise at key Seoul airports such as Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport.
The remarkable rebound in international arrivals generated record-breaking economic benefits for South Korea’s hospitality and retail sectors in the first half of the year. According to data from the Korea Tourism Organization, foreign visitor credit card spending exceeded 6.8 billion U.S. dollars, setting a new all-time tourism revenue record. Sector analyses highlight that foreign tourist arrivals in H1 reached over 10 million, with expenditures hitting the historic 6.8 billion U.S. dollar mark roughly three months earlier than 2025, when such spending only surpassed that threshold in September.
Chinese Tourist Numbers Propel Inbound Travel Growth Indicators
Officials from tourism authorities credit ongoing growth to targeted policy adjustments, increased flight capacity, and the rising global popularity of Korean cultural exports. Measures such as extending temporary visa-free programs for organized Chinese tours and restoring international flight routes have facilitated easier entry for short-term visitors. Urban planning reports from the Seoul AI Foundation show that foreign tourists are increasingly exploring destinations outside traditional capital landmarks. This trend has driven double-digit growth at outdoor markets, cultural sites, and hiking areas like Achasan and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Reaching 10 million arrivals before midyear bolsters government forecasts of attracting 22 million to 23 million international tourists by year-end. Officials expect the travel momentum to accelerate in the second half, aided by peak summer vacations, autumn festivals, and additional international flight routes connecting regional airports with major Asian cities. With foreign visitor numbers already exceeding 2019 pre-pandemic levels by nearly 27 percent, tourism agencies are actively collaborating with hospitality providers, regional governments, and transport operators to maintain infrastructure capacity and develop regional travel routes across the country.