South Korea will offer visa-free entry to tourist groups from China, for a temporary period from Sept 29 through June 2026, to boost foreign tourism ahead of an Asia-Pacific summit, the government said.
The visa-free offer was first announced in March after China’s decision last November to offer a visa exemption to South Koreans and foreign visitors from several other countries.
It also comes amid expectations that ties between the two countries will improve under the new South Korean administration of liberal President Lee Jae-myung.
The decision to introduce the measure ahead of a Chinese holiday period in early October will help boost the domestic economy amid a recovery in foreign visits, the tourism ministry said yesterday, after a meeting to revitalising tourism ahead of the Asia-Pacific summit.
South Korea will host a summit of leaders from 21 economies for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum from Oct 31 to Nov 1 in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, a gathering where Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump might hold separate talks. — Reuters
