SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – South Korea achieved a $596.6 million tourism surplus in June 2026, marking its most robust monthly result since the onset of COVID-19. This figure reflects a $1.44 billion increase compared to June 2025, when the country experienced an $846.8 million deficit. According to data from the Korea Tourism Organization, June’s surplus ranks as the second-highest monthly figure on record, with only October 2008 surpassing it with a $661.5 million surplus.
The tourism balance had been in deficit for 72 straight months from March 2020 through February 2026. January recorded a $1.4034 billion shortfall, followed by a $1.0993 billion deficit in February. The balance turned positive in March with a $263.8 million surplus. It maintained positive figures in April at $159.9 million and in May at $220.5 million, continuing the recovery trend into June.
In June, tourism revenue reached $2.784 billion, while expenses totaled $2.1874 billion. Foreign travelers spent an average of $1,397 each during the month, whereas outbound South Korean tourists spent around $1,091 per person. The disparity between income from tourism and expenditures led to a fourth consecutive monthly surplus, representing a notable turnaround from the deficits recorded earlier in 2026.
Inbound Tourist Numbers Surge in June
In June, South Korea hosted 1,993,128 international visitors, an increase of 23.1% compared to the same month last year, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. China remained the primary source market with 649,582 visitors, up 36.2% from June 2025. Japan followed with 348,216 arrivals, a rise of 21.3%. Visitors from Taiwan totaled 223,127, while arrivals from the Americas reached 219,948, and Europe contributed 119,445 visitors.
During the first half of 2026, international arrivals amounted to 10,709,919, reflecting a 21% increase over the previous year. Foreign tourists’ credit card spending totaled 10.0389 trillion won in this period, a jump of 50.8%. In June alone, card expenditures hit 2.0544 trillion won, up 66.4% year over year. Additionally, the Korea Tourism Organization reported 395,246 international arrivals via regional airports in June, an increase of 42.5%.
Tourism Expenditure Gains Parallel Visitor Growth
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism also noted growth from markets beyond Korea’s main Asian visitor sources. Arrivals from the Americas reached 1,077,287 in the first half of the year, a 12.7% rise from the previous year. European visitors increased by 20.2% to 738,943, and other long-haul regions also showed gains. The United States contributed 811,974 visitors through June, an 11.1% increase, while Canada added 157,003, up 17.1%.
The June surplus continues a trend following three years of annual tourism deficits exceeding $10 billion. Those 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 balance has been positive for four consecutive months. In June, receipts surpassed expenditures by $596.6 million, marking South Korea’s largest monthly tourism surplus since the pandemic and its second-highest on record.