SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – South Korea reported a $596.6 million tourism surplus in June 2026, marking its strongest monthly result since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The figure represents an increase of approximately $1.44 billion compared to June 2025, which saw the country record an $846.8 million deficit. According to data from the Korea Tourism Organization, June’s surplus was the second-highest monthly figure on record, with only October 2008 surpassing it at $661.5 million.
This June surplus extends South Korea’s streak of positive tourism balances to four months in a row. The nation had experienced deficits for 72 consecutive months from March 2020 through February 2026. In January, the deficit was $1.4034 billion, followed by $1.0993 billion in February. The balance turned positive again in March, with a surplus of $263.8 million, and continued to stay in the black at $159.9 million in April and $220.5 million in May.
Tourism revenue reached $2.784 billion in June, while outbound spending by South Korean tourists hit $2.1874 billion. On average, foreign visitors spent $1,397 per person during the month, while outbound Korean travelers spent an average of $1,091 each. The difference between inbound tourism income and outbound expenditures resulted in the $596.6 million surplus, marking the largest positive monthly balance in over 17 years.
Major markets see growth in international visitor numbers
In June, South Korea welcomed 1,993,128 international travelers, representing a 23.1% rise compared to the same month in 2025. China remained the top source market, with 649,582 visitors, up 36.2% from the previous year. Japan followed with 348,216 visitors, an increase of 21.3%, while Taiwan contributed 223,127 arrivals. Visitors from the Americas totaled 219,948, and European visitors numbered 119,445 during June.
The total international arrivals for the first half of 2026 reached 10,709,919, which is a 21% growth year-over-year. During this period, foreign tourists spent a total of 10.0389 trillion won on credit cards, a 50.8% increase from the first half of 2025. In June alone, card spending reached 2.0544 trillion won, reflecting a 66.4% rise compared to last year. Furthermore, the Korea Tourism Organization reported 395,246 international arrivals through regional airports in June, showing a 42.5% increase.
Tourism revenue gains as visitor numbers grow
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recorded growth from several long-haul markets in the first half of 2026. Arrivals from the Americas numbered 1,077,287, up 12.7% from the previous year. European visitors increased by 20.2%, totaling 738,943 during this period. The United States contributed 811,974 visitors, an 11.1% rise, while Canada added 157,003 arrivals, up 17.1% compared to the first half of 2025.
South Korea’s latest monthly surplus follows three years of yearly tourism deficits exceeding $10 billion. The country experienced deficits of $10.38 billion in 2023 and $10.21 billion in 2024, with the shortfall reaching $10.76 billion in 2025. By June 2026, the monthly balance had stayed positive for four consecutive months. The June surplus of $596.6 million was the largest since the pandemic and the second-highest ever, reflecting a notable turnaround in the country’s tourism sector.