South Korean businesses prepare for influx of Chinese travelers

China

South Korean businesses prepare for influx of Chinese travelers

2025-09-28 15:11 Last Updated At：09-29 00:17

South Korea's tourism sector is preparing for an influx of Chinese travelers as its visa-free policy for Chinese tour groups will take effect on Monday, two days ahead of China's National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday running from Oct 1 to 8.

The visa-free policy will last for nine months until June 30, 2026, as part of efforts to boost local tourism.

In Seoul's Gangnam District, the owners of a mom-and-pop clothing store are learning the Chinese language. They used to depend on their employees to talk with Chinese customers, but increased tourism has encouraged them to pick it up themselves.

"We'd like to improve our oral communication ability, and we are studying hard," said store-owner Lee Myung-jae.

Merchants in Seoul's major commercial districts, such as Myeong-dong, Hongdae and Seongsu-dong, are recruiting employees who can speak Chinese, and many street food stalls have also put up a Chinese-language menu. The merchants have also introduced China's mobile payment services to improve Chinese tourists' shopping experience.

"The arrival of more Chinese tourists has made the nearby commercial districts bustling, and increased our incomes," said a vendor.

China has long been the largest source of inbound tourists to South Korea. According to the latest data from the Korea Tourism Organization, Chinese tourists accounted for 28.6 percent of all foreign tourists to South Korea in the first half of 2025. With the visa-free policy for Chinese group tourists set to come into effect soon, South Korea is expected to receive over 5 million Chinese tourist visits this year.

"As more and more Chinese tourists hope to experience local life in South Korea, we are working hard to launch some products that can offer a deeper understanding of South Korean culture, such as tour routes that include traditional markets and small cities," said a travel agency staffer.

Major South Korean airlines have also increased flights to China, with routes from Incheon to China's Kunming, Fuzhou, Chongqing recently opening or reopening.

ROK ex-president Yoon sentenced to 5 years in prison on arrest obstruction charges

The Republic of Korea (ROK)'s former impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday was sentenced to five years in prison on arrest obstruction charges.

The criminal division of the Seoul Central District Court in charge of Yoon's obstruction of justice case handed down the prison sentence to Yoon for abusing the presidential security service to hinder the anti-corruption agency from executing its arrest warrant in January 2025.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was once thwarted in its attempt to arrest Yoon as the presidential security service formed human shields and bus blockades to prevent investigators from entering the presidential residence.

The team of Cho Eun-suk, an independent counsel who led investigations into Yoon's insurrection and other charges, demanded a 10-year prison term for Yoon.

The court said Yoon privatized the presidential security service for personal safety and private interests by blocking the law enforcement agencies' lawful execution of an arrest warrant and attempting to destroy evidence, pointing out that despite the very bad nature of his crime, he consistently offered unconvincing excuses and showed no remorse.

The court stressed that severe punishment was necessary, considering the need to restore the rule of law damaged by Yoon's crime, but it noted that the fact that he was a first-time offender with no criminal record was considered a favorable factor.

The sentencing, which was broadcast live, was Yoon's first verdict coming from his botched martial law bid.

The first-instance sentencing for Yoon's insurrection charges was scheduled for Feb 19. The special counsel sought a death penalty for Yoon on the charges.

Yoon declared emergency martial law on the night of Dec 3 in 2024, but it was revoked hours later by the National Assembly.

The constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon in April 2025, officially removing him from office.

The ousted leader was indicted while in detention in January 2025 on charges of leading an insurrection, becoming the first sitting ROK president facing such prosecution.