SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – South Korea recorded a tourism surplus of $596.6 million in June 2026, marking its strongest monthly performance since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This figure represents an improvement of approximately $1.44 billion compared to June 2025, when the country experienced an $846.8 million deficit. According to Korea Tourism Organization data, June’s surplus was the second-highest ever recorded, with only October 2008 surpassing it at $661.5 million.
The June result continued South Korea’s streak of four consecutive months with a positive tourism balance. The nation had endured deficits for 72 straight months from March 2020 until February 2026. In January, the deficit was $1.4034 billion, followed by a $1.0993 billion shortfall in February. The balance shifted into surplus in March at $263.8 million, then remained positive at $159.9 million in April and $220.5 million in May.
Tourism receipts hit $2.784 billion during June, while South Korean residents traveling abroad spent a total of $2.1874 billion. On average, foreign visitors spent $1,397 each during the month, whereas outbound South Korean travelers spent an average of $1,091. The difference between inbound tourism earnings and outbound expenditures resulted in the $596.6 million surplus, the largest positive monthly balance in over 17 years.
Growth in International Visitor Numbers Noted Across Key Markets
In June, South Korea welcomed 1,993,128 international travelers, reflecting a 23.1% increase compared to the same month in 2025. China remained the largest source of visitors with 649,582 arrivals, representing a 36.2% rise from the previous year. Japan followed with 348,216 visitors, up 21.3%, while Taiwan contributed 223,127 arrivals. The Americas accounted for 219,948 visitors, and Europe saw 119,445 visitors during June.
Over the first half of 2026, international arrivals totaled 10,709,919, showing a 21% annual growth. Foreign tourists spent a total of 10.0389 trillion won using credit cards during this period, a 50.8% increase from the same timeframe in 2025. Specifically, June alone saw card spending reach 2.0544 trillion won, a year-on-year increase of 66.4%. Additionally, 395,246 international arrivals were recorded through regional airports in June, marking a 42.5% rise.
Tourism Income Grows as Arrivals Continue to Rise
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism reported positive trends from several long-distance markets in the first half of 2026. Arrivals from the Americas increased by 12.7% to 1,077,287. European visitors rose 20.2% to 738,943, with the United States accounting for 811,974 arrivals, up 11.1%. Canada contributed an additional 157,003 visitors, representing a 17.1% increase compared to the first six months of 2025.
South Korea’s recent monthly surplus follows a period of annual tourism deficits exceeding $10 billion for three consecutive years. The country experienced deficits of $10.38 billion in 2023, $10.21 billion in 2024, and a total of $10.76 billion in 2025. As of June 2026, however, the country’s tourism balance has been positive for four straight months. The June surplus of $596.6 million is the largest monthly gain since the pandemic and the second-highest on record overall.
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