Weekend getaways to Shanghai trendy among young South Koreans

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠China's visa-free policy for South Korea fuels rise in weekend trips to Shanghai among young South Koreans.

China announced the expansion of its visa-free policy on a trail basis in November 2024 for holders of ordinary passports from nine countries, including South Korea. From Nov 8, 2024, to Dec 31, 2025, South Korean holders of ordinary passports can enter China without a visa for stays of up to 15 days for business, tourism, family visit, and transit.

On weekends, the area near Wukang Building in southwest Shanghai's city center is bustling with fashionably dressed South Korean youth, capturing memories with their cameras. The historic street, known for its unique architecture and cultural vibe, has become a must-see destination for visitors from South Korea.

"This is my second time here, and I am waiting for the third time. I want to go to old streets. I want to feel the Chinese foods or vibes," said Hap-ni, a South Korean tourist.

Another popular spot is the Former Provisional Government Site of the Republic of Korea in Huangpu District, which has seen a surge in South Korean visitors since the visa-free policy was introduced.

"It's [my] first time. Shanghai is very beautiful and [has] very nice people. The Chinese government has to keep this policy, please. It's really really good benefit for foreigners," said Bo-rap, another tourist from South Korea.

The influx of South Korean tourists is not just benefiting tourist attractions but also boosting the demand for Chinese cuisine. A barbecue restaurant in Huangpu District has seen a steady stream of South Korean visitors. The unique experience of enjoying sizzling skewers while using cooling patches has made the restaurant a hit on South Korean social media, increasing foot traffic.

Since the end of 2024, the restaurant has introduced multilingual services, including Korean-language signs, to cater to the growing number of foreign visitors.

"Since the visa-free policy was introduced, we've seen growing flows of South Korean customers. Now the overseas customers have increased by around 40 percent," said Hu Zhenjiang, manager of the restaurant.

Shanghai Customs data show a notable rise in the inbound arrivals of South Korean travelers. In December 2024, over 130,000 trips by South Korean tourists were recorded at Pudong International Airport, a jump of more than 20 percent from the previous month.

Weekend getaways to Shanghai trendy among young South Koreans

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that the situation in Iran is "under total control" following violence linked to protests that spiked over the weekend.

Addressing foreign diplomats in Tehran, the foreign minister noted that armed terrorist groups had infiltrated the protests, attempting to divert them from their legitimate course. He claimed that evidence has been gathered showing Iranian security forces being shot at, with the aim of causing further casualties. He accused the United States and Israel of exploiting the unrest to interfere in Iran's internal affairs.

Araghchi further stated that the government is closely monitoring developments on the streets, emphasizing that "the situation has come under control." He also affirmed that internet services, curtailed during the unrest, would be restored after coordination with security agencies.

The government has engaged in dialogue with merchants and protest representatives and initiated reforms to address grievances related to price hikes and currency depreciation. Iran has taken a series of actions and measures to respond to the demands of peaceful demonstrators, the foreign minister said.

Earlier on Sunday, Araghchi said that clear evidence links recent riots and vandalism of public facilities in Iran to the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. This came after former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo mentioned Mossad agents operating on Iran's streets in a social media post. The Iranian foreign minister asserted that police are being attacked by "terrorists" acting under the direction of Israeli operatives, whom Pompeo publicly acknowledged.

The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and U.S. sanctions.

Iranian foreign minister says situation "fully under control," accuses Israeli intelligence of stoking unrest