S.Korea in June sets post-COVID-19 monthly high in foreign visitors

The (South) Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) on Friday said 961,000 foreign visitors came to the country last month, a 321.9% jump from June last year.

This was the highest number of monthly visitors after COVID-19, recovering to 65% of the June 2019 level.

The number in the first half of the year was 4,431,000, or 52.5% of that in the same period of 2019.

By nationality, Japanese held the top spot with 197,000 last month, an amazing leap of 3,256%.

Chinese were second with 168,000, up 1,219%, and Americans third with 121,000, up 119%.

Fourth was Taiwanese with 97,000, an insane 9,559% jump from June last year as the island country ranked first in the rate of growth.

“Europe and the Americas are showing a recovery rate of 95% of 2019 levels,” a KTO source said. “China since May has seen rapid recovery of an over 10-fold margin from last year.”

The number of South Koreans going overseas last month was 1,772,000, up 329% year on year to reach 71% of its June 2019 level.

The outbound traveler figure in the year’s first half was 9,931,000, or 66% of that in the same period of 2019.

Write to Mi-Kyoung Lee at capital@hankyung.com