The South Korean government plans to trial a visa-free entry policy for Chinese group tourists from 29 September 2025 to 30 June 2026.
According to a report by Yonhap News Agency, South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok mentioned the plan in response to the Chinese government’s decision to implement a trial visa-free entry policy for South Korean tourists starting last November.
As a corresponding measure to China’s visa-free policy, relevant South Korean government departments have been discussing a plan to implement a trial visa-free entry policy for Chinese group tourists.
The South Korean government believes that, given the rapid recovery of the South Korean tourism market, the move will boost potential demand for travel to South Korea and stimulate domestic demand.
South Korea welcomed a total of 16.37 million overseas visitors last year, with Chinese mainland visitors accounting for approximately 28%, or about 4.6 million. In the first quarter of this year, 4.3 million visitors entered South Korea, with mainland Chinese tourists accounting for nearly 25%.
China implemented a trial visa-free policy for South Korea starting from 8 November last year, which will remain in effect until the end of this year.
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