The South Korean government will implement a temporary visa-free entry system for Chinese group tourists for a period of nine months, from the 29th of this month until June 30, 2026.
According to a joint plan by relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Justice, group tourists of three or more people, recruited by a designated travel agency, can travel across South Korea without a visa for up to 15 days. However, for Jeju Island, the existing 30-day visa-free entry for both individual and group tourists will continue to apply.
The recruitment of Chinese group tourists will be handled by designated travel agencies in Korea and visa application agencies designated by South Korean diplomatic missions in China. The list of group tourists must be submitted by the Korean designated travel agencies on the 'Hi Korea' website 24 hours before entry (36 hours for travel by ship). Overseas travel agencies must apply for designation at a South Korean diplomatic mission in China and will be notified of the designation result after confirmation by the Ministry of Justice's immigration authorities.
The Ministry of Justice will pre-screen the list of group tourists to exclude high-risk individuals, such as those with entry restrictions or a history of illegal stay, from visa-free entry, requiring them to obtain a separate visa. Furthermore, the government will impose administrative penalties on designated travel agencies with a certain rate of unauthorized departure of tourists and will immediately revoke designation in cases of intentional or collusive departures.
In the case of Korean designated travel agencies, having a history of unauthorized departures will result in a deduction of points for new and renewal designations, and they will be ineligible for new designation for two years if their designation is revoked. Overseas designated travel agencies with a history of administrative penalties, such as a suspension of proxy services within the last two years, will be excluded from the designation. Their accountability will be strengthened by revoking their designation if the quarterly average unauthorized departure rate exceeds 2%.
The government plans to manage the entry of group tourists smoothly through this system and will enhance measures to prevent low-cost tours and forced shopping, as well as strengthen education on precautions for tour guides. Information on the related procedures will be provided to travel agencies from September 8 to 19, and the registration and designation of designated travel agencies will begin on September 15.
To prepare for the National Day holiday, the registration of group tourist lists will be possible from September 22. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism also plans to expand support for designated travel agencies, including the development of excellent tour products and local marketing support.
The government stated, "The implementation of the temporary visa-free system for Chinese group tourists is expected to have a positive ripple effect across the entire tourism industry, including the food service, accommodation, and duty-free sectors," and "it is also expected to significantly contribute to enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the people of both countries through the expansion of human exchange between Korea and China."
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