South Korea begins visa-free entry for Chinese tourist groups

By Reuters September 28, 2025 | 07:21 pm PT

Street vendors (L) wait for customers at Myeongdong shopping district in Seoul, South Korea, Jan. 9, 2023. Photo by Reuters Business Markets Sustainability Legal Commentary

South Korea began offering visa-free entry for Chinese tourist groups on Sept. 29, a measure it hopes will boost the economy and help improve ties with its Asian neighbor.

As part of the pilot program due to run through until next June, groups of three or more tourists from mainland China will be able to visit South Korea without a visa for 15 days.

The action comes ahead of China's National Day holidays from Oct. 1 to 8, as well as a run of South Korean holidays around the same time.

South Korean companies are seeking to benefit from the increased demand. Shilla Duty Free has organized a Chinese cruise tour and food delivery app Baedal Minjok is introducing payment options in Alipay and WeChat Pay.

The program, announced in March, follows China's decision in November 2024 to offer visa exemptions to South Koreans for up to 30 days.

The last time South Korea offered mainland Chinese similar visa-free entry was from December 2017 to March 2018, coinciding with the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

The new administration of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is hoping to further improve ties with China during an expected visit by President Xi Jinping in late October to an Asia-Pacific summit in South Korea.