SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – South Korea achieved a $596.6 million tourism surplus in June 2026, marking its best monthly performance since the COVID-19 crisis began. The surplus improved by approximately $1.44 billion compared to June 2025, when the country faced an $846.8 million deficit. Data from the Korea Tourism Organization shows June was the second-highest month for tourism surplus on record. The only month with a larger surplus was October 2008, when it hit $661.5 million.
This June figure signals South Korea’s fourth month in a row with a positive tourism balance. The country had experienced deficits for 72 straight months from March 2020 to February 2026. In January, the deficit was $1.4034 billion, followed by a $1.0993 billion shortfall in February. The balance turned positive again in March, with a surplus of $263.8 million. April and May saw the surplus grow to $159.9 million and $220.5 million, respectively.
Tourism earnings reached $2.784 billion in June. Meanwhile, South Korean travelers spent $2.1874 billion abroad during the same period. On average, foreign visitors spent $1,397 each, while outbound South Korean travelers spent $1,091. The difference between inbound tourism income and outbound spending created the $596.6 million surplus. This is the largest monthly positive balance in over 17 years.
Increase in Foreign Visitor Numbers from Major Countries
In June, South Korea welcomed 1,993,128 international visitors, a 23.1% increase from June 2025. China remained the leading source of inbound tourists, with 649,582 visitors. Arrivals from China grew by 36.2% year-on-year. Japan came next, with 348,216 visitors, up 21.3%, followed by Taiwan with 223,127 arrivals. Visitors from the Americas totaled 219,948, and European visitors reached 119,445 during June.
For the first half of 2026, international arrivals hit 10,709,919, marking a 21% rise compared to the same period last year. Foreign tourists spent a total of 10.0389 trillion won on credit cards, up 50.8% from the first six months of 2025. In June alone, card expenditures amounted to 2.0544 trillion won, a 66.4% increase compared to last year. The Korea Tourism Organization also recorded 395,246 international arrivals through regional airports in June, a 42.5% rise.
Tourism Revenue Grows as Tourist Numbers Increase
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism highlighted growth from several key long-haul markets during the first half. Arrivals from the Americas reached 1,077,287, up 12.7% from a year earlier. European visitors increased by 20.2%, totaling 738,943 for the half-year. The United States contributed 811,974 visitors, an 11.1% rise. Canada added 157,003 arrivals, a 17.1% increase compared to the first half of 2025.
South Korea’s latest monthly surplus follows three years of annual deficits over $10 billion. The country posted deficits of $10.38 billion in 2023 and $10.21 billion in 2024. In 2025, the shortfall reached $10.76 billion. By June 2026, the monthly balance stayed positive for four months straight. June’s tourism revenue exceeded outbound tourism spending by $596.6 million, making it the largest monthly surplus since the pandemic and the second-highest ever.