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A significant milestone has just been reached in the cooperative relationship between South Korea and China. For the first time since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992, South Korea has officially been included in the list of countries whose citizens are exempt from visa requirements for entry into China. This decision marks a new step in promoting people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation between the two major Asian economies.
It is noteworthy that this visa waiver decision is a unilateral move from China. This demonstrates the proactive approach and goodwill of the Chinese government in opening up and facilitating entry for international tourists, especially Korean citizens. With China having unilaterally waived visa requirements for citizens of 29 countries, it is clear that the country is expanding its international cooperation and integrating more deeply into the global economy.
China's latest decision to grant visa-free entry to South Korean citizens has created an unprecedented surge in tourism between the two countries.
According to the Korea Times, from November 2024 to the end of 2025, China will waive visa requirements for South Koreans for stays of up to 15 days for purposes such as business, tourism, visiting family, or transit. Previously, the cost of applying for a visa to China was at least 60,000 won (approximately 1,000,000 VND) and usually took about a week, even for inexpensive, single-entry group visas.
China's new visa-free policy is expected to create a whole new wave of tourism, particularly attracting young South Koreans aged 20 to 40. Unlike previous generations, these young people tend to travel independently, exploring new places and experiencing unique cultures. No longer having to deal with visa application procedures will allow them to be more proactive in planning their trips.
Previously, the Chinese tourism market in South Korea primarily focused on older customers, aged 50 to 70. These individuals typically opted for pre-arranged group tours with guided tours. However, for younger generations, traditional tours are no longer as appealing. They desire more freedom to explore and experience on their own.
Travel companies in South Korea are predicting a surge in the number of tourists flocking to the country of over a billion people.
The visa-free policy will facilitate Korean travel companies in designing new tourism products that cater to the needs of young people. These could include tours exploring modern cities, tours experiencing unique culinary cultures, or tours combined with adventurous sports activities. Furthermore, the rise of online booking platforms and travel apps will make it easier for young people to find information and book flights and hotels.
Even before the visa waiver announcement, demand for travel from South Korea to China had been rising recently. According to several reports, group travel to China increased by 112% in the third quarter compared to the same period last year and by 19% compared to the previous quarter.
According to data analysis by the Korea Tourism Organization based on data from China's National Bureau of Statistics, approximately 4.35 million South Koreans visited China in 2019, before the COVID-19 outbreak. Statistics from the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs show that number had dropped to 1.29 million last year.
