South Korea to Allow Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Group Tourists from Late September

The South Korean government announced that it will temporarily allow visa-free entry for Chinese group tourists from September 29 this year until June 30, 2025. The initiative aims to invigorate the country's tourism industry and spur domestic consumption, with expectations heightened by the upcoming APEC summit scheduled for next year.

This policy was decided at the "Tourism Revitalization Mini-Policy Task Force" meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on August 6, presided over by Prime Minister Kim Minseok. Officials from various ministries and experts from the tourism industry attended the meeting, where they discussed strategies to enhance tourism regulation and maximize the opportunities presented by the 2025 APEC summit.

China has allowed visa-free entry for South Koreans since November last year. In response, South Korea is launching a temporary reciprocal policy just before China's National Day, hoping to attract more inbound tourists and deliver tangible benefits to local economies.

Additionally, entry procedures for foreign participants attending large-scale international conferences will be simplified. The minimum size for fast-track (priority screening) eligibility will be lowered from 500 to 300 attendees. After a pilot operation, this will become a formal policy next year, enhancing Korea’s competitiveness in the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) sector and positioning it as a preferred destination for global events.

Standards for designating outstanding agencies in medical tourism are also being strengthened. Previously, medical institutions were recognized based on visa issuance and medical service records. The revised system, to take effect this August, will allow non-medical facilitators—who do not have direct medical records—to qualify as outstanding agencies if they have attracted 500 or more foreign patients.

During the meeting, participants also discussed ways to leverage the 2025 APEC summit, which will be held in Korea, as a global tourism asset. The government plans to develop specific measures such as tailored tourism programs and improved hospitality services, preparing a national-level promotional strategy in advance of the summit.

Moving forward, the government will form consultative bodies involving ministries, industry, and academia to continue improving tourism-related policies and systems, then coordinate these in national tourism strategy meetings.

Prime Minister Kim Minseok emphasized, “The 2025 APEC summit will be a decisive opportunity for boosting tourism,” and ordered relevant ministries to “swiftly develop a systematic strategy to link event publicity with tourism promotion.”

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Provided by Government Seoul Office