A policy for visa-free entry to South Korea by Chinese tourists travelling in groups – mentioned in March – will take effect from late September and last for more than half a year.
South Korea will offer visa-free entry to tourist groups from China from September 29 to June 2026, to boost foreign tourism ahead of an Asia-Pacific summit, the government said on Wednesday, as reported by media outlets.
The decision to introduce the measure ahead of a Chinese holiday period in early October – encompassing China’s National Day on October 1 – will help boost South Korea’s economy if it helps stimulate inbound tourism, said the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, as cited by media.
Reuters said that shares of South Korean department stores, casinos, hotels and beauty product makers rallied on Wednesday, amid hopes of a boost from Chinese demand.
Several brokerages recently mentioned that visa-free entry to South Korea for certain Chinese travellers might benefit resort operators there that run foreigner-only casinos at their venues.
Yanolja Research, a Seoul-based company, said in a February report – citing Korea Culture and Tourism Institute data and the Korean Duty-Free Shop Association – that while South Korea had a “surge” in tourist arrivals in 2024, tourism income had “stagnated”.
It noted that In 2024, the number of foreign tourists visiting South Korea was recorded at just under 16.4 million, “recovering to 93.5 percent of the record-high level seen in 2019”.
Though it added: “Despite the significant increase in tourist arrivals, tourism revenue remained stagnant at US$16.45 billion – only 80 percent of the 2019 level.”
South Korea will host a summit of leaders from 21 economies for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum from October 31 to November 1 in the southeastern city of Gyeongju.
According to Reuters, China’s leader President Xi Jinping and the U.S. leader, President Donald Trump, might attend the gathering.
