SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – South Korea reported a tourism surplus of $596.6 million for June 2026, marking its strongest monthly performance since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This figure represents an approximate increase of $1.44 billion compared to June 2025, when the country experienced an $846.8 million deficit. Data from the Korea Tourism Organization indicated that June’s surplus was the second-highest recorded monthly figure, with only October 2008 surpassing it at $661.5 million.
This June result signifies South Korea’s fourth consecutive month of positive tourism balance, following a period of 72 straight months of deficits from March 2020 through February 2026. The country’s January balance registered a $1.4034 billion deficit, which narrowed to $1.0993 billion in February, before turning positive again in March at $263.8 million. The trend continued into April with a surplus of $159.9 million and remained positive in May at $220.5 million.
Tourism earnings in June reached $2.784 billion, while expenditures by South Korean travelers abroad totaled $2.1874 billion. On average, foreign visitors spent $1,397 per person during the month, whereas outbound Korean tourists spent approximately $1,091 each. The disparity between inbound tourism income and outbound expenses resulted in a surplus of $596.6 million, which was the largest positive monthly balance in over 17 years.
International visitor numbers increase across key markets
In June, South Korea welcomed 1,993,128 international travelers, reflecting a 23.1% rise compared to the same month in 2025. China remained the leading source market with 649,582 visitors, showing a 36.2% increase from the previous year. Japan followed with 348,216 visitors, up 21.3%, and Taiwan contributed 223,127 arrivals. Additionally, visitors from the Americas totaled 219,948, while European arrivals amounted to 119,445 during June.
During the first half of 2026, international arrivals reached 10,709,919, indicating a 21% growth year-over-year. Foreign credit card expenditures by tourists during this period totaled 10.0389 trillion won, a 50.8% increase from the first six months of 2025. June alone saw card spending reach 2.0544 trillion won, which is a 66.4% increase compared to the previous year. Additionally, the Korea Tourism Organization noted that 395,246 international visitors arrived through regional airports in June, representing a 42.5% increase.
Tourism revenue increases as visitor numbers grow
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism highlighted gains from several long-haul markets during the initial half of the year, with arrivals from the Americas reaching 1,077,287—an increase of 12.7% from the same period last year. European visitors also rose by 20.2%, totaling 738,943 over six months. The United States contributed 811,974 visitors, which is an 11.1% rise, while Canada added 157,003 arrivals, up 17.1% compared to the first half of 2025.
South Korea’s recent monthly surplus marks a significant turnaround after three years of annual tourism deficits exceeding $10 billion, with deficits of $10.38 billion in 2023, $10.21 billion in 2024, and a peak of $10.76 billion in 2025. By June 2026, however, the monthly balance had been positive for four months in a row. The June tourism revenue surpassed outbound tourism expenses by $596.6 million, representing the second-largest monthly surplus ever for South Korea and the highest since the pandemic period.
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