SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – South Korea posted a tourism surplus of $596.6 million in June 2026, marking the most significant monthly gain since the COVID-19 pandemic began. This figure represents a $1.44 billion increase compared to June 2025, when the balance showed an $846.8 million deficit. According to data from the Korea Tourism Organization, June’s surplus ranks as the second-highest monthly record ever, with only October 2008 surpassing it at $661.5 million.
From March 2020 through February 2026, the tourism balance had remained in deficit for 72 consecutive months. January experienced a shortfall of $1.4034 billion, followed by February with a deficit of $1.0993 billion. The balance shifted into positive territory in March, with a surplus of $263.8 million. It stayed positive in April at $159.9 million and in May at $220.5 million, continuing the upward trend into June.
In June, tourism revenue reached $2.784 billion, while expenditures amounted to $2.1874 billion. Visitors from abroad spent an average of $1,397 per individual during the month. Meanwhile, South Korean outbound travelers spent an average of $1,091 per person. The difference between receipts and expenses resulted in a fourth consecutive monthly surplus, marking a notable turnaround from the deficits seen earlier in 2026.
Inbound Tourist Numbers Surge in June
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, South Korea hosted 1,993,128 international visitors in June, reflecting a 23.1% increase compared to the previous year. China remained the top source market with 649,582 visitors, which is a 36.2% rise from June 2025. Japan followed with 348,216 arrivals, up 21.3%. Visitors from Taiwan numbered 223,127, while arrivals from the Americas reached 219,948, and Europe contributed 119,445 visitors.
During the first half of 2026, international arrivals totaled 10,709,919, representing a 21% increase over the previous year. Foreign tourists’ credit card spending during this period hit 10.0389 trillion won, showing a 50.8% increase. In June alone, card spending reached 2.0544 trillion won, which is a 66.4% rise year over year. The Korea Tourism Organization also reported 395,246 international arrivals through regional airports in June, an increase of 42.5%.
Visitor Growth Drives Up Tourism Spending
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism data also indicate an increase in tourism from regions outside Korea’s primary Asian source markets. Arrivals from the Americas totaled 1,077,287 in the first half of 2026, which is a 12.7% rise from the same period last year. European arrivals grew by 20.2% to 738,943, with other long-haul markets also seeing gains. The United States contributed 811,974 visitors through June, an 11.1% increase, while Canada brought in 157,003, up 17.1%.
The positive trend in June’s tourism surplus follows three years of annual deficits exceeding $10 billion for South Korea. These deficits were $10.38 billion in 2023, $10.21 billion in 2024, and $10.76 billion in 2025. By June 2026, the monthly tourism balance had been in positive territory for four months straight. June’s receipts outpaced expenditures by $596.6 million, marking the largest monthly tourism surplus since the pandemic and the second-highest on record.
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