Aiming a strategic boost to its tourism sector and international relations, the South Korean government announced a temporary visa-free entry for Chinese tourists on 6 August. Tourists can enjoy this visa-free entry from September 29, 2025, through June 2026. The main focus of this initiative is to elevate South Korean inbound tourism and reinforce its cultural and economic ties ahead of the APEC summit in Gyeongju.
Initiative Overview
On Wednesday, 6 August 2025, the office of Prime Minister Kim Min-seok informed that organized groups of tourists from China enter South Korea without a visa. This visa-free entry to South Korea will be effective from September 29, 2025, until June 30, 2026. Only those tour operators authorized by South Korean authorities can guide Chinese tourists. This initiative lets Chinese group tourists enter not only Jeju Island but also any South Korean airport or port.
This is the very first South Korea initiative, offering a nationwide visa-free entry for Chinese groups. Previously, the visa waiver launch only allowed Jeju Island to welcome Chinese tourists, granting stays of up to 30 days.
According to the Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency, the implementation of this visa-free entry will benefit South Korea in many ways:
- Help South Korea’s foreign tourism market to recover faster,
- Boost demand for travel to South Korea,
- Revitalize South Korea’s regional economies and fuel domestic consumption.
Industry analysts said that the visa exemption will provide a significant boost to foreign tourism-based local businesses, which had dropped due to pandemic-related restrictions.
Moreover, this temporary visa waiver initiative will bring hopes for improved diplomatic rapport between Seoul and Beijing under newly elected South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung.
Why Timing Matters
The visa-free rollout of the South Korean government lines up perfectly with two strategic moments.
- First, it arrives just before China’s Golden Week, a National Day holiday celebrated from October 1 to 7. It’s one of the most popular times for travel and family visits.
- Then, South Korea will host the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju from October 31 to November 1, bringing leaders from 21 economies.
According to Reuters, this timing matters as it will stimulate tourist volume significantly, especially from China. Additionally, it follows China’s previous initiative in November 2024 to grant visa-free entry for South Koreans.
Impact on Travel Demand
Chinese tourist interest in visiting South Korea has surged after the announcement. The search results for Seoul-bound tourism packages increased by 70% within just 30 minutes, according to Qunar, a popular Chinese travel booking platform.
Furthermore, several Chinese tour agencies have already updated their tour packages. South Korean tour destinations, including Seoul, Busan, and Jeju Island, are at the top of their list. For instance, Spring Tour, a leading travel agency in Shanghai, now offers tours to Busan and other less-visited places in South Korea.
Popular Choices & Emerging Trends
South Korean tourist spots like Seoul’s Myeongdong, Jeju’s Hallasan, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Incheon, and Busan are still hot picks for Chinese tourists.
The new visa-free policy is likely to widen interest in visiting South Korea. Trip.com expects an increase in family travelers from third and fourth-tier Chinese cities and tourists belonging to middle-aged and elderly groups.
Economic Benefits
Around 4.6 million Chinese travelers visited South Korea in 2024. About 28% of the visitors are inbound travelers.
According to the Bank of Korea, each extra group of 1 million Chinese tourists could stimulate South Korea’s GDP growth by 0.08 percent.
In addition, this visa-free initiative of the South Korean government may bring more revenue to hotels, retail shops, duty-free sectors, food courts, and regional tourism.
Diplomatic and Strategic Dimensions
South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok mentioned that this visa-free policy signals the opening of more tourism-friendly policies from the government.
Similarly, it highlights the South Korean government’s intention to balance its robust U.S. alliance while improving its rapport with China.
The visa-free entry may unlock the scope for high-level interactions at the APEC summit, especially between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump.
Highlights of the Initiative
- Program duration: 29 September 2025 to 30 June 2026.
- Target Travelers: Organized Chinese tour groups.
- Visit Scope: Nationwide
- Past Policy: Visa-free entry to visit Jeju Island.
- Interest Spike: 70% increase noted in the search for South Korea travel destinations.
- Popular Destinations: Seoul, Busan, Jeju Island, and Incheon
- Tourist Demographics: All travelers from youth to families and elder groups.
- Economic Impact: 0.08% increase in GDP.
- Diplomatic Factor: Plan to strengthen strategic balancing with the U.S. and China ahead of APEC.
Conclusion
The visa-free initiative is a timely and targeted move of the South Korean government. It can help in boosting South Korean tourism and supporting their overall economic recovery. Meanwhile, it plays a significant role in diplomacy by preparing the nation for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and nourishing its ties with China while maintaining healthy western alliances.
Chinese online search results for South Korean tourism after the announcement and industry response project high optimism. If the visitors increase accordingly, South Korea could experience a meaningful spike in tourism revenue, job vacancy, cultural engagement, and overall growth. This visa-free policy may not only empower the tourism department but also foster international relationships through travel and exchange.
