Group tourists from China can now enter South Korea at Incheon International Airport and other entry hubs under a new visa-free arrangement.
Until the end of June next year, groups of three or more on organized tours can stay for up to 15 days without a visa.
Introduction of the policy coincides with China’s Golden Week holiday starting from Wednesday.
Officials of South Korea hope the move will give the local tourism industry a boost, as the number of Chinese travelers slowly recovers to pre-COVID pandemic levels.
The South Korean government expects more than one million arrivals during the nine-month program.
This latest move doesn’t affect existing travel rules to the South Korea resort island of Jeju, where 30-day visa-free entry for both groups and individuals remains unchanged.
The move is also viewed as reciprocal. Last year, China introduced visa-free entry for South Korean visitors, which led to a sharp rise in outbound travel from South Korea.
Many tourists from China hope that the new visa policy will continue to encourage two-way exchanges.
"The two countries should exchange more to reduce misunderstandings. It’s great if people can just live their lives well and happily. I hope the South Korean government not only offers free group visas but also provides some convenience for individual visas," said Liu Shanbin, a Chinese traveler.
The South Korean tourism industry and retailers are preparing for an influx in Chinese visitors and offering special promotions catered to these travelers.
The government said it will continue to track visitor numbers and spending, as South Korea seeks to reinforce its status as an attractive destination for Chinese travelers.
"I think this policy is pretty good, and it’s quite convenient. Yeah, it makes it much easier for everyone to bring their family or friends along. If I have the time, I’ll definitely come again. Now I’m here first to get a feel for the place, and if I decide that the tour to South Korea is really fun, I’ll definitely bring my family and friends to come together with me once more, taking advantage of this visa-free policy," said Xu Jingyi, another Chinese traveler.
S Korea begins visa-free entry for Chinese tour groups
