Seoul, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – Korea’s Republic of Korea saw its foreign visitor count exceed 10 million in the first six months of the year, following a surge in international arrivals. The country welcomed nearly 2 million travelers in June alone, according to official data published by Emirates News Agency. This monthly figure contributed to a total of 10.71 million foreign arrivals during H1, reflecting a 21.3 percent growth compared to the same period last year when 8.8 million visitors were recorded. This achievement also surpasses the pre-pandemic levels from 2019 by 26.9%, with the June influx representing a 23.1 percent increase over the same month in 2022.
Throughout the first half of the year, East Asian neighboring nations remained the primary catalysts for Korea’s tourism revival. Data on international arrivals show that mainland China continued to be the largest single source, with 650,000 visitors arriving in June and the fastest growth rate among major source countries. From January to June, Chinese tourists totaled 3.21 million. Japan ranked second, with 350,000 visitors in June, bringing its six-month total to 1.95 million. Taiwan maintained its third position, contributing 220,000 arrivals in June and reaching 1.15 million over the first half of the year.
Expanding beyond traditional East Asian markets provided additional momentum for South Korea’s tourism recovery. Official figures reveal that long-haul arrivals from North America reached 220,000 in June, with the United States accounting for 177,744 of those visitors, pushing the American inbound total to 810,000 for the first half. European countries collectively brought in 120,000 travelers during June, while the six leading Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, contributed a combined 230,000 arrivals. Officials pointed out that visitor numbers from both Taiwan and the US showed particularly strong growth, increasing by over 160 percent compared to the baseline figures from the first half of 2019 before global travel restrictions were imposed.
First Half International Tourist Numbers Surpass Pre-Pandemic Levels
Data from transportation authorities indicated that commercial air travel remained the primary route for inbound visitors, with June recording 1.74 million foreign arrivals by plane. Notably, international entry patterns displayed a quick decentralization from Seoul, with regional airports experiencing faster growth than major gateways within the Seoul metropolitan area. June’s regional airport arrivals, including Gimhae International Airport in Busan, Daegu International Airport, Jeju International Airport, and Cheongju International Airport, soared 42.5 percent year-on-year to reach 395,246 visitors. This increase significantly outpaced the 18.2 percent growth at key city airports like Incheon and Gimpo International Airport.
The remarkable rebound in international travel volume generated record-breaking revenue for Korea’s hospitality and retail sectors in the first half of the year. According to financial data published by the Korea Tourism Organization, foreign visitor credit card spending exceeded 6.8 billion U.S. dollars, setting a new tourism revenue record. Sector analysts noted that Korea’s foreign arrivals hit over 10 million in H1, with tourism spending reaching the 6.8 billion U.S. dollar mark about three months earlier than in 2025, when such expenditures did not surpass that threshold until September.
June Sees Nearly 2 Million Foreign Travelers Arrive in Korea
Tourism officials credit the ongoing growth in inbound travel to strategic policy changes, increased flight capacity, and the global appeal of Korean cultural exports. Measures such as extending temporary visa-free programs for organized Chinese tour groups and reinstating international flight routes have simplified entry procedures for short-term visitors. Urban development reports from the Seoul AI Foundation indicate that foreign tourists are increasingly exploring beyond typical capital landmarks, resulting in double-digit growth at outdoor markets, cultural sites, and hiking destinations like Achasan and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Hitting the 10 million foreign visitor mark before midyear bolsters government forecasts of attracting 22 million to 23 million international tourists by year’s end. Officials expect travel momentum to accelerate in the latter half, supported by peak summer holidays, autumn festivals, and more international flights connecting regional airports to major Asian hubs. With total foreign arrivals already nearly 27 percent above pre-pandemic 2019 levels, tourism authorities continue coordinating with hospitality providers, regional governments, and transportation services to maintain infrastructure capacity and promote regional travel routes across the nation.