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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Seoul – The South Korean government announced on September 7 that it will allow temporary visa-free entry for Chinese group tourists from September 29, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
Under the plan, groups of three or more Chinese nationals traveling through designated travel agencies will be permitted to enter South Korea without a visa for up to 15 days. The measure is aimed at revitalizing inbound tourism, particularly ahead of China’s Golden Week holiday in October.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, together with the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Office for Government Policy Coordination, unveiled the detailed implementation plan following an earlier decision by the government’s “Tourism Promotion Task Force” on August 6.
Key Details of the Program
Eligibility: Chinese group tourists organized by accredited travel agencies in Korea or designated agencies in China.
Duration: Up to 15 days of visa-free stay, valid nationwide.
Pre-Entry Screening: Domestic travel agencies must register group passenger lists on the HiKorea online portal at least 24 hours before arrival (36 hours for sea arrivals). Immigration authorities will screen the lists to block high-risk individuals with prior immigration violations.
Safeguards Against Overstays
The government emphasized prevention of illegal overstays as a top priority. Measures include:
Cancellation of designation for agencies with an average quarterly defection rate above 2%.
Immediate cancellation if agencies are found complicit in unauthorized departures.
Penalties for agencies with prior violations when applying for new accreditation.
Overseas designated agencies with administrative suspensions within the past two years will be excluded.
Implementation Timeline
Sept 8–19: Registration guidance for designated travel agencies.
Sept 15: Immigration offices begin the formal designation process.
Sept 22: Group list submissions open, enabling agencies to prepare for the October tourism peak.
The government noted that while the program is designed to boost tourism, strict compliance and monitoring mechanisms will ensure system integrity and minimize potential abuse.
알파경제 Kim Jisun (stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
