South Korea's Jeonnam extends visa exemption for Vietnamese tourists

The southern province has received permission from the Ministry of Justice to apply the extension.

The province is currently applying a 15-day visa-free entry policy for tourists in groups of 5 or more arriving at the Muan airport from the three countries, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia, to Jeonnam, Gwangju, Jeonbuk and Jeju.

The policy is considered part of the local administration’s efforts to attract tourists from the three countries.

Since the policy was applied in March 2023, Jeonnam has continuously attracted regular charter flights from Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia. The locality and surrounding areas have attracted about 4,000 foreign tourists.

Data released by BC Card in 2023 showed that the amount of card payments by Vietnamese tourists to Jeonnam in the first half of the year increased more than 300% from the same period in 2022, significantly contributing to reviving the local economy.

Director of the Department of Sports and Tourism of Jeonnam Joo Sun-seon said that after the Covid-19 pandemic ended, the locality has been gradually expanding customized accommodation products for foreign tourists and stepping up marketing and advertising activities.

The province has also accelerated the completion of new facilities such as Wando Marine Healing Center and Mokpo Ocean Hotel to provide new tourism products for foreign tourists, he added.