Seoul, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – The Republic of Korea welcomed nearly 2 million international travelers in June, propelling the total number of foreign visitors entering the country during the first half of the year beyond a significant milestone. Official figures released by Emirates News Agency confirm that South Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals exceeded 10 million in H1, supported by consistent double-digit increases from key regional markets. Data from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism indicate that 1.99 million foreigners arrived in June alone, marking a 23.1 percent growth over the same month last year. This strong monthly performance pushed the overall first-half figure to 10.71 million visitors, up 21.3 percent from the 8.8 million recorded during the same period in 2025, and it surpassed pre-pandemic 2019 levels by 26.9 percent.
Throughout the first half of the year, East Asian neighboring countries continued to be the main contributors to South Korea’s tourism growth. Incoming travel data show that mainland China remained the top source of international arrivals, bringing in 650,000 visitors in June and showing 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 ranked second, with 350,000 visitors in June, and a six-month total of 1.95 million. Taiwan maintained its third position, contributing 220,000 visitors in June and totaling 1.15 million arrivals during the first half of the year.
Expanding beyond traditional East Asian markets has provided additional momentum to South Korea’s tourism recovery. Official data show that long-haul travelers from North America reached 220,000 in June, with the United States accounting for 177,744 of those arrivals, bringing the total American inbound count for the first half of the year to 810,000. European countries collectively contributed 120,000 visitors in June, while the six main Southeast Asian origins—including the Philippines—generated a combined total of 230,000 arrivals. Experts note that visitor numbers from Taiwan and the United States experienced particularly notable growth, expanding by more than 160 percent compared to baseline figures from the first half of 2019, prior to global travel restrictions.
First Half International Tourist Numbers Exceed Pre-Pandemic Levels
Data on transportation logistics reveal that commercial air travel remains the predominant mode of entry for visitors, with 1.74 million foreign arrivals by air in June. Notably, international entry patterns show a significant decentralization from Seoul, as regional airports experienced faster growth relative to the capital’s main gateways such as Seoul. In June, arrivals through regional airports like 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, a figure that significantly outpaced the 18.2 percent rise seen at primary entry points in Incheon and Gimpo airports.
This surge in international arrivals has resulted in historic economic gains for South Korea’s hospitality and retail sectors in the first half of the year. According to data published by the Korea Tourism Organization, foreign tourist credit card expenditures exceeded 6.8 billion U.S. dollars, setting a new tourism revenue record. Sector analysts point out that the country’s foreign tourist arrivals in H1 surpassed 10 million, and tourism spending reached the 6.8 billion U.S. dollar mark nearly three months earlier than in 2025, when such expenditures did not top that level until September.
June Sees Nearly 2 Million Foreign Travelers Arrive
Officials in charge of tourism attribute this continued growth to strategic policy changes, increased air route capacity, and the rising global popularity of Korean cultural exports. Measures such as extending temporary visa-free programs for organized Chinese tour groups and restoring international flight routes have eased entry for short-term visitors. Urban development reports from the Seoul AI Foundation highlight that foreign travelers are increasingly exploring destinations outside traditional capital attractions, leading to double-digit growth at outdoor markets, cultural heritage sites, and hiking areas like Achasan and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Reaching the 10 million arrival mark before mid-year bolsters government forecasts of attracting between 22 million and 23 million international visitors by year-end. Officials expect the travel momentum to accelerate in the latter half of 2023, supported by peak summer holidays, autumn festivals, and additional international flights connecting regional airports with major Asian cities. With total foreign arrivals already surpassing 2019 pre-pandemic levels by nearly 27 percent, tourism agencies continue collaborating with hospitality providers, regional governments, and transportation companies to maintain infrastructure and expand regional travel options nationwide.