Seoul, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – Nearly 2 million international tourists visited the Republic of Korea in June, pushing the total number of foreign arrivals in the initial six months of the year beyond a significant milestone. The official figures issued by the government, as confirmed by Emirates News Agency, show that Korea’s inbound tourist numbers surpassed 10 million in H1, buoyed by sustained double-digit growth across major regional markets. Data from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism indicate that June alone brought 1.99 million foreign visitors, a 23.1 percent rise compared to the same month last year. This strong monthly growth pushed the overall first-half total to 10.71 million arrivals, 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 first half of the year, East Asian neighboring countries continued to serve as the main drivers of South Korea’s tourism expansion. Data on inbound travel shows that mainland China remained the top source of international visitors, bringing in 650,000 arrivals in June and demonstrating the fastest year-on-year growth among major source nations. The cumulative figure for Chinese visitors from January to June reached 3.21 million. Japan secured the second position with 350,000 arrivals in June, totaling 1.95 million over the first six months. Taiwan maintained its third-place ranking, contributing 220,000 visitors in June and accumulating 1.15 million inbound travelers for the first half of the year.
Expanding beyond traditional East Asian markets gave further impetus to South Korea’s tourism recovery. Official entry data reveal that long-haul arrivals from North America reached 220,000 visitors in June, with the United States accounting for 177,744, and bringing the total American inbound volume for the first half of the year to 810,000. European countries collectively welcomed 120,000 visitors in June, while the six key Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, contributed a combined 230,000 travelers. Officials highlighted that visitor numbers from Taiwan and the U.S. experienced especially robust growth, increasing by more than 160 percent compared to baseline figures from the first half of 2019, prior to the onset of global travel restrictions.
Mainland China and Japan Drive Regional Tourism Expansion
Data from transportation logistics show that air travel remained the primary entry mode for inbound visitors, with 1.74 million foreign arrivals by air in June. Notably, international entry patterns indicated a swift decentralization from Seoul’s main gateways, as regional airports experienced faster growth. Arrivals through regional facilities 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 to reach 395,246 visitors in June. This growth significantly outpaced the 18.2 percent rise observed at central hubs like Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport.
The sharp rebound in international arrivals generated record-breaking revenue for Korea’s hospitality and retail sectors during the first half of 2025. Data from the Korea Tourism Organization show that foreign visitor credit card spending surpassed 6.8 billion U.S. dollars, setting a new tourism revenue record. Sector analysis indicates that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals in H1 reached over 10 million, with expenditure hitting the 6.8 billion U.S. dollar mark about three months earlier than in 2025, when such spending did not cross that threshold until September.
Chinese Tourist Growth Outpaces Overall Inbound Trends
Officials from tourism authorities attribute the ongoing growth in inbound travel to strategic policy adjustments, increased air route capacity, and the global appeal of Korean cultural exports. Measures such as extending temporary visa-free entry programs for organized Chinese tour groups and reinstating international flight routes have eased access for short-term visitors. Urban development reports from the Seoul AI Foundation reveal that foreign travelers are increasingly exploring destinations beyond traditional capital landmarks. This shift has led to double-digit increases at outdoor markets, cultural heritage sites, and hiking trails like Achasan and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Reaching over 10 million arrivals by midyear supports government forecasts aiming for 22 million to 23 million international tourists by year’s end. Officials expect the momentum will continue into the second half, boosted by peak summer holidays, autumn festivals, and additional international flights connecting regional airports to major Asian cities. With foreign visitors already exceeding 2019 pre-pandemic levels by nearly 27 percent, tourism agencies are actively working with hospitality providers, regional administrations, and transport companies to maintain infrastructure capacity and develop new regional travel routes nationwide.