South Korea's inbound tourism surpasses pre-pandemic levels

Seoul : South Korea welcomed 10.7 million international visitors in the first six months of 2026, marking a strong recovery for the country's tourism sector as arrivals exceeded pre-Covid levels, according to data from the Korea Tourism Organi-zation (KTO).

The first-half visitor count was 21.3 percent higher than the same period in 2025 and 26.9 percent above the figure recorded during the first half of 2019, before the pandemic disrupted global travel.

China remained South Korea's largest source market, contributing 3.21 million visitors, followed by Japan with 1.95 million arrivals. Taiwan ranked third with 1.15 million visitors, while the United States and the Philippines accounted for 810,000 and 360,000 arrivals, respectively.

South Korea crossed the 10 million visitor mark in late June, earlier than the previous year, raising expectations that the country could achieve its annual target of attracting 22 million to 23 million foreign tourists in 2026.

Tourism authorities expect continued growth in the second half of the year, supported by increased international flight services, the summer travel season, and an extension of the temporary visa-free entry policy for Chinese group tourists.

The South Korean govt has introduced stricter measures to improve tourist experiences and address unfair pricing practices. New regulations, effective August 4, will impose stronger penalties on accommodation providers that fail to display room rates or charge prices higher than advertised.