South Korea to allow visa-free entry for Chinese tourists starting next month

Tourists walk through Myeongdong one of Seouls major shopping districts on July 27 2025 Yonhap — Tourists stroll at Seoul's shopping district of Myeong-dong in the capital on July 27, 2025. Yonhap

SEOUL, August 6 (AJP) - Chinese tour groups will be able to enter South Korea without visas as early as late next month.

As part of efforts to boost the tourism industry, the visa-waiver program, which follows China's similar move in November last year, was decided during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok at the government complex in Seoul on Wednesday.

The program, which allows short-term visa-free entry for Chinese travelers, is set to take effect on Sept. 29 and will run through June next year.

"Once implemented, we expect the program to attract more tourists and help boost domestic consumption," said a government official.

South Korea will also ease and expand its current fast-track entry program, which expedites immigration procedures at airports, to include more foreigners and businesspeople attending large-scale international conferences and other events.

Kim Hee-su khs@ajunews.com