Which destinations in Korea are Vietnamese visitors exempt from visas?

This information was confirmed by Minister of the Interior Jeon Hae Cheol at a press conference on May 4. This is considered a positive signal for the tourism industry in Korea after 2 years of being affected by the Covid-19 epidemic.

In fact, the visa exemption program on Jeju Island has been in place since 2002. Visitors from 24 countries and territories (including Vietnam) designated by the Korean Ministry of Justice will be able to travel here for up to 30 days without a visa. However, this program has been temporarily suspended since April 4, 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out and became more complicated.

A representative of the Korea Tourism Organization in Vietnam said that Vietnamese tourists are allowed to visit Jeju Island for up to 30 days without a visa in two ways: charter flights (flights with their own departure schedules; not depending on the airline's fixed flight schedule) or connecting flights in a third country. Tourists can join a tour or travel independently, but only stay on the island and are not allowed to enter the mainland or go elsewhere.

For visitors passing through Yangyang International Airport, they will be allowed to travel to Gangwon and the Seoul Capital Area for 15 days without a visa. There are currently no commercial flights from cities in Vietnam to Yangyang, so visitors must fly by charter flights.

The Yangyang visa exemption policy only applies to tourists who purchase tours from travel companies and travel in groups of five or more. These companies will be responsible to the Korean government in case Vietnamese tourists encounter problems while traveling.

The South Korean Interior Minister also affirmed that South Korea will take measures to revive the local economy with a "return to a new normal" by streamlining entry procedures and providing reasonable visa exemptions to increase the number of tourists and revive the tourism industry.

Currently, the Korean government has also lifted some strict regulations and exempted mandatory quarantine for fully vaccinated visitors.

Phuong Thao is the Editor of Travellive Magazine. She is passionate about traveling and loves to capture moments with her camera in every land she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are her favorite writing topics.

Phuong Thao