SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – South Korea registered a tourism surplus of $596.6 million in June 2026, marking its most significant monthly gain since the onset of COVID-19. This figure reflects a $1.44 billion increase compared to June 2025, when the balance recorded an $846.8 million deficit. Data from the Korea Tourism Organization indicate that June’s surplus ranks as the second-highest monthly record ever, with only October 2008 surpassing it at $661.5 million.
The tourism account had been in deficit for 72 straight months from March 2020 to February 2026. In January, the shortfall reached $1.4034 billion, followed by a $1.0993 billion deficit in February. The situation shifted in March with a $263.8 million surplus. April maintained a positive balance at $159.9 million, and May ended with $220.5 million, continuing the recovery trend into June.
In June, tourism revenue totaled $2.784 billion, while expenditures amounted to $2.1874 billion. Foreign tourists spent an average of $1,397 per person during the month, whereas outbound Korean travelers spent an average of $1,091. The gap between receipts and expenses resulted in a fourth consecutive monthly surplus, signifying a notable turnaround from the deficits seen earlier in 2026.
Visitor numbers surge significantly in June
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism reported that South Korea received 1,993,128 international visitors in June, representing a 23.1% rise from the same month last year. China remained the top source market with 649,582 visitors, up 36.2% compared to June 2025. Japan followed with 348,216 arrivals, an increase of 21.3%. Taiwan brought in 223,127 visitors, while arrivals from the Americas reached 219,948, and those from Europe totaled 119,445.
In the first half of 2026, international arrivals reached 10,709,919, showing a 21% increase from the previous year. Credit card spending by foreign tourists hit 10.0389 trillion won during this period, a rise of 50.8%. June alone accounted for 2.0544 trillion won in card transactions, reflecting a 66.4% year-over-year growth. Additionally, the Korea Tourism Organization recorded 395,246 international arrivals through regional airports in June, which is a 42.5% increase.
Tourism expenditure grows alongside visitor numbers
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism also highlighted an expansion from regions outside Korea’s primary Asian source markets. Arrivals from the Americas totaled 1,077,287 in the first half of the year, marking a 12.7% increase compared to the same period last year. European visitor numbers grew by 20.2% to 738,943, with other long-haul regions also showing gains. In the United States, arrivals reached 811,974, an 11.1% rise, while Canada contributed 157,003 visitors, up 17.1%.
The positive trend in June’s tourism balance follows three years of annual deficits exceeding $10 billion for South Korea’s tourism sector. The deficits totaled $10.38 billion in 2023, $10.21 billion in 2024, and $10.76 billion in 2025. As of June 2026, the monthly tourism account has been in positive territory for four consecutive months. June’s receipts surpassed expenditures by $596.6 million, representing the largest monthly tourism surplus since the pandemic and the second-highest on record.