SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – South Korea registered a tourism surplus of $596.6 million in June 2026, marking its most robust monthly result since the COVID-19 crisis. This figure reflects an improvement of approximately $1.44 billion compared to June 2025, when the nation experienced an $846.8 million deficit. Data from the Korea Tourism Organization indicated that June’s surplus was the second-highest ever recorded, with only October 2008 surpassing it at $661.5 million.
The June outcome signifies South Korea’s fourth consecutive month of positive tourism balance. Following 72 straight months of deficits from March 2020 through February 2026, the country turned a corner with a $1.4034 billion shortfall in January, which was followed by a $1.0993 billion deficit in February. The deficit narrowed to a surplus of $263.8 million in March and remained positive in April at $159.9 million and in May at $220.5 million.
Tourism income hit $2.784 billion in June, whereas South Korean travelers spent a total of $2.1874 billion abroad. The average expenditure per foreign visitor during the month was $1,397, while outbound Korean travelers spent an average of $1,091 each. The difference between inbound tourism earnings and outbound spending resulted in a $596.6 million surplus, the largest positive monthly balance in over 17 years.
Key Markets See Growth in International Visitor Numbers
In June, South Korea welcomed 1,993,128 international visitors, a 23.1% rise compared to the same month in 2025. China remained the leading inbound market with 649,582 visitors, representing a 36.2% increase year-over-year. Japan followed with 348,216 visitors, up 21.3%, and Taiwan accounted for 223,127 arrivals. Visitors from the Americas totaled 219,948, while European tourists numbered 119,445 during June.
Between January and June 2026, international arrivals reached 10,709,919, reflecting a 21% increase over the previous year. During this period, foreign tourist credit card spending amounted to 10.0389 trillion won, marking a 50.8% rise from the first half of 2025. In June alone, card expenditure reached 2.0544 trillion won, showing a 66.4% increase compared to the previous year. Additionally, the Korea Tourism Organization reported 395,246 international arrivals via regional airports in June, a 42.5% jump.
Tourism Revenue Gains as Visitor Numbers Continue to Climb
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism reported strong growth from several major long-haul markets during the first half of the year. Arrivals from the Americas reached 1,077,287, an increase of 12.7% from the previous year. European visitors rose by 20.2% to 738,943 over the same period, with the United States contributing 811,974 visitors, up 11.1%. Canada brought in 157,003 arrivals, representing a 17.1% increase compared to the first half of 2025.
South Korea’s latest monthly surplus follows three years of annual tourism deficits exceeding $10 billion. In 2023, the country recorded a deficit of $10.38 billion, followed by $10.21 billion in 2024, with a total shortfall of $10.76 billion in 2025. However, by June 2026, the monthly tourism balance has been positive for four consecutive months. June’s receipts outpaced outbound tourism spending by $596.6 million, marking the country’s largest monthly surplus since the pandemic and the second-highest ever recorded.