SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – South Korea achieved a $596.6 million tourism surplus in June 2026, marking the strongest monthly performance since the COVID-19 pandemic began. This figure represents an increase of approximately $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 ranks as the second-highest monthly record, with only October 2008 surpassing it at $661.5 million.
This June number signifies South Korea’s continued recovery, extending its streak of positive tourism balances for a fourth consecutive month. The country had faced deficits for 72 straight months from March 2020 through February 2026. The deficit peaked in January at $1.4034 billion, followed by a $1.0993 billion shortfall in February. The balance shifted into surplus in March with $263.8 million, then stayed positive 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 travelers totaled $2.1874 billion. The average expenditure per foreign visitor was $1,397, whereas South Korean outbound tourists spent an average of $1,091 each. The difference between inbound tourism income and outbound expenditure resulted in the $596.6 million surplus, which is the largest positive monthly balance in over 17 years.
Significant Increase in Foreign Tourists from Key Markets
In June, South Korea welcomed 1,993,128 international visitors, showing a growth of 23.1% compared to the same month in 2025. China remained the leading source market with 649,582 visitors, a 36.2% rise from the previous year. Japan followed with 348,216 visitors, up 21.3%, and Taiwan accounted for 223,127 arrivals. Visitors from the Americas totaled 219,948, and European visitors reached 119,445 during June.
Over the first half of 2026, international arrivals totaled 10,709,919, reflecting a 21% increase compared to the same period last year. During this time, foreign tourists’ credit card expenditures amounted to 10.0389 trillion won, marking a 50.8% rise from the first six months of 2025. June alone saw card spending hit 2.0544 trillion won, a 66.4% increase year-over-year. The Korea Tourism Organization also documented 395,246 international arrivals through regional airports in June, a 42.5% rise.
Tourism Income Growth Driven by Rising Visitor Numbers
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism reported gains from numerous long-haul markets in the first half of 2026. Arrivals from the Americas reached 1,077,287, increasing by 12.7% compared to the previous year. European visitors grew by 20.2%, totaling 738,943 during the period. The United States contributed 811,974 visitors, an 11.1% rise, while Canada added 157,003 arrivals, up 17.1% from the first half of 2025.
South Korea’s recent monthly surplus comes after three years of annual tourism deficits exceeding $10 billion. The country’s deficits were $10.38 billion in 2023 and $10.21 billion in 2024, with a total of $10.76 billion in 2025. However, by June 2026, the country had experienced four consecutive months of positive balances. In June, tourism receipts surpassed outbound tourism spending by $596.6 million, making it the largest monthly surplus since the pandemic and the second-highest ever for South Korea.