Muscat: South Korea recorded its highest tourism balance surplus in June since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Oman News Agency, data released by Korea Tourism Organization and reported by Yonhap News Agency indicated that the surplus stood at US$596 million, compared with a deficit of US$846 million in June of the previous year.

The tourism balance had registered deficits for 72 consecutive months, from March 2020-coinciding with the onset of the pandemic-through February of this year. It subsequently shifted to a surplus of US$263 million in March, followed by US$159 million in April and US$220 million in May this year.