After Japan increased visa fees for Chinese travelers, South Korea announced its move.

On July 1, the South Korean Ministry of Justice officially declared an extension of the visa fee exemption for group tourists from six countries, including China.

The visa fee exemption for groups from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, and Cambodia—originally set to expire on June 30—has now been extended to December 31. This follows the 11th National Tourism Strategy Expansion Meeting. The measure applies to travel groups of three or more people, with a maximum stay of 15 days. Jeju Island remains unchanged: both individual travelers and group tourists are exempt from visas, with a maximum stay of 30 days.

The data looks impressive: last year, approximately 790,000 foreign tourists entered South Korea under group visas, a 39% increase year-on-year, while the rate of illegal overstay among those who left their tour groups was just 0.07%, nearly halved compared to the previous year. When South Korea initially launched this pilot program in March last year, the goal was to surpass one million Chinese group tourists visiting South Korea, while simultaneously using tourism to improve relations between the two nations.

Let’s clarify the timeline: China had already implemented visa-free entry for South Koreans starting November 2024. As a result, South Korean tourist interest in China surged first. In response, South Korea adopted a "visa fee waiver + conditional visa exemption for group tourists," creating a mutually beneficial situation. However, note carefully: this extension covers only "visa fee exemption," not a new visa-free policy. Domestic group tourists still face the requirement of traveling in groups of three or more and staying no longer than 15 days. Individual travel remains tightly controlled; only Jeju Island’s 30-day visa-free access represents a genuine opening for individual visitors.

In short, after President Yoon Suk-yeol’s departure, South Korea is actively mending ties with China, and tourism serves as the softest entry point. With figures like 790,000+ and a mere 0.07% overstay rate, South Korea feels confident enough to extend this policy for the Nth time. What’s next? Whether individual travel will see further relaxation will be the true indicator of direction.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869506485482762/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.