SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – South Korea achieved a $596.6 million tourism surplus in June 2026, marking its most robust monthly performance since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This figure represents an increase of approximately $1.44 billion compared to June 2025, when the country faced an $846.8 million deficit. Data from the Korea Tourism Organization identified June as the second-highest month on record for tourism surplus, with only October 2008 surpassing it at $661.5 million.
This June figure signifies South Korea’s fourth consecutive month of positive tourism balance, after a lengthy period of deficits totaling 72 months from March 2020 through February 2026. The country’s January balance was a $1.4034 billion deficit, followed by February’s $1.0993 billion shortfall. However, the trend reversed in March when the surplus reached $263.8 million. It remained positive at $159.9 million in April and $220.5 million in May.
Tourism earnings hit $2.784 billion in June, while South Korean residents traveling abroad spent a total of $2.1874 billion. On average, foreign visitors spent $1,397 per person during the month, whereas outbound South Korean travelers spent about $1,091 each. The difference between inbound tourism income and outbound expenditure resulted in the $596.6 million surplus, making it the largest positive monthly balance in over 17 years.
Major markets contribute to rising foreign visitor numbers
In June, South Korea welcomed 1,993,128 international tourists, reflecting a 23.1% increase compared to the same month in 2025. China remained the leading source of visitors, with 649,582 arrivals, and experienced a 36.2% rise from the previous year. Japan ranked second, with 348,216 visitors, up 21.3%, followed by Taiwan with 223,127 arrivals. Visitors from the Americas totaled 219,948, while European travelers numbered 119,445 during June.
Over the first half of 2026, international arrivals reached 10,709,919, indicating a 21% year-on-year increase. During this period, foreign tourists’ credit card expenditures amounted to 10.0389 trillion won, an uplift of 50.8% compared to the same period last year. June alone saw credit card spending reach 2.0544 trillion won, a 66.4% increase from the previous year. Additionally, the Korea Tourism Organization recorded 395,246 international arrivals via regional airports in June, representing a 42.5% rise.
Visitor numbers and receipts grow alongside expanding tourism flows
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism reported increased arrivals from several key long-haul markets during the first half of 2026. Tourists from the Americas numbered 1,077,287, which is a 12.7% rise from the same period last year. European visitors increased by 20.2% to 738,943. The United States contributed 811,974 visitors, up 11.1%, while Canada brought in 157,003 arrivals, representing a 17.1% increase compared to the first six months of 2025.
South Korea’s recent monthly surplus marks a notable turnaround after three years of annual deficits exceeding $10 billion. The country posted deficits of $10.38 billion in 2023 and $10.21 billion in 2024, with the total shortfall reaching $10.76 billion in 2025. Nonetheless, by June 2026, the monthly balance had been positive for four consecutive months. The June tourism income surpassed outbound tourism expenses by $596.6 million, representing the second-highest monthly surplus ever and the largest since the pandemic began.