Under what circumstances can entry to Jeju Island be denied?

A representative from the Jeju Tourism Promotion Bureau in Vietnam stated that Scoot's recent refusal to allow Vietnamese and some other nationalities to fly the Singapore-Jeju route was the airline's own decision; and that Jeju Island's visa-free policy for Vietnamese tourists using direct flights remains unchanged.

Since June 1, 2022, Jeju Island has restored its visa-free entry policy for citizens from 180 countries worldwide, including Vietnam. In June 2022 alone, Jeju received a total of 24,190 foreign visitors, including 274 Vietnamese tourists. However, there have been numerous cases of foreign tourists exploiting the visa-free policy, entering the island for tourism purposes and staying illegally. Therefore, the South Korean Ministry of Justice has tightened controls on entry into Jeju Island in particular and South Korea in general.

Accordingly, although the visa exemption policy for tourists from Vietnam and other countries remains unchanged, visitors entering Jeju will need to undergo strict screening by the Korean Immigration Office.

Whether or not entry is granted falls under the authority and function of the agency under the Korean Ministry of Justice, and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Tourists may be denied entry if their purpose for tourism is suspected. Scoot's refusal to allow Vietnamese tourists entry may be a precautionary measure in case passengers are denied entry upon arrival in Jeju, as the airline would incur significant related costs.

A representative from the Jeju Tourism Promotion Bureau in Vietnam added: "Due to some current entry restrictions, tourists should be aware of and thoroughly research information before booking airline tickets, as well as using travel products from reputable travel companies."

To avoid unnecessary inconvenience, tourists can apply for a tourist visa and enter Jeju at Incheon or other domestic airports, then continue their journey to Jeju. The Jeju Island government has been continuously working with tourism companies to develop Jeju tourism products and collaborating with airlines to operate direct flights to Jeju, creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese tourists.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Jeju Island was a favorite destination for Vietnamese people, attracting around 29,000 visitors annually. However, despite the island reopening on June 1st, travel agencies report that visa-free Jeju tours from Vietnam are recovering slowly due to limited flights and high costs. Currently, most Vietnamese tourists visiting Jeju obtain visas and enter the country at other locations before traveling to Jeju Island.

Phuong Thao is an editor at Travellive magazine. She is passionate about traveling and enjoys capturing moments with her camera in every place she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are Phuong Thao's favorite writing topics.

Phuong Thao