Seoul, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – Nearly 2 million international visitors arrived in Republic of Korea in June alone, propelling the total number of foreign travelers entering the country in the first six months past a significant threshold. Data released by Emirates News Agency confirmed that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals exceeded 10 million in H1, driven by consistent double-digit growth from key regional source markets. Statistics from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism indicate that 1.99 million foreigners visited Korea in June, representing a 23.1 percent rise compared to the same month last year. This strong monthly increase brought the cumulative first-half figure to 10.71 million visitors, a 21.3 percent growth from the 8.8 million recorded during the same period in 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic 2019 levels by 26.9 percent.
Throughout the first half of the year, East Asian neighboring nations continued to be the primary drivers of South Korea’s tourism growth. Data indicates that mainland China remained the top source of international visitors, with 650,000 arrivals in June, also showing the fastest year-on-year growth among major source countries. In the first six months, Chinese visitors totaled 3.21 million. Japan ranked second with 350,000 visitors in June, raising its six-month total to 1.95 million. Taiwan kept its position as the third-largest origin market, with 220,000 arrivals during June, bringing its total to 1.15 million inbound visitors for the January-June period.
Expanding beyond traditional East Asian markets provided additional momentum for Korea’s tourism recovery. Official entry figures reveal that long-haul arrivals from North America reached 220,000 in June, with the United States accounting for 177,744 visitors, bringing the U.S. inbound total to 810,000 for the first half of the year. European countries collectively contributed 120,000 arrivals in June, while the six leading Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, contributed a combined 230,000 travelers. Analysts emphasized that visitor numbers from both Taiwan and the U.S. experienced particularly strong gains, increasing by over 160 percent compared to baseline figures from the first half of 2019, before global travel restrictions.
First-Half International Tourist Numbers Surpass Pre-Pandemic Levels
Transport data shows that commercial aviation remained the primary mode of entry for international travelers, with air travel accounting for 1.74 million foreign arrivals in June. Notably, international entry patterns are shifting away from Seoul, as regional airports see faster growth compared to the traditional gateways in the Seoul metropolitan area. 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, reaching 395,246 visitors in June. This growth rate notably outpaces the 18.2 percent rise at major entry points including Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport.
The remarkable rebound in international arrivals has led to record-breaking revenue for Korea’s hospitality and retail sectors in the first half of the year. The Korea Tourism Organization reported that foreign visitor credit card spending exceeded 6.8 billion U.S. dollars, marking an all-time high for tourism earnings. Sector analyses highlight that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals surpassed 10 million in H1, with tourism expenditure reaching the historic 6.8 billion U.S. dollars roughly three months earlier than in 2025, when such spending did not cross that threshold until September.
June Sees Nearly 2 Million Foreign Tourists Enter Korea
Officials in charge of tourism credit the ongoing growth in inbound visitors to targeted policy adjustments, expanded air routes, and the rising global appeal of Korean cultural exports. Measures such as extending temporary visa-waiver programs for organized Chinese tour groups and restoring international flight routes have made it easier for short-term travelers to enter. Reports from the Seoul AI Foundation indicate that foreign tourists are increasingly exploring beyond traditional capital attractions, leading to double-digit growth at outdoor markets, cultural sites, and hiking destinations like Achasan and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Hitting the 10 million milestone before mid-year reinforces government forecasts aiming for 22 million to 23 million international tourists by year-end. Officials expect the second half of 2023 to see further acceleration, driven by peak summer vacations, autumn festivals, and increased international flight options connecting regional airports to major Asian cities. With foreign visitor numbers already surpassing pre-pandemic levels by nearly 27 percent, agencies continue to work with hospitality providers, regional authorities, and transportation services to sustain capacity and expand travel routes nationwide.