South Korea’s ruling People Power Party (PPP) on Friday, October 17, 2025, called for an immediate end to the country’s visa-free entry program for Chinese tour groups, citing security risks, recent crimes, and public unease. The statement, delivered at the National Assembly by floor leader Rep. Song Eon-seog, marked the first time party leadership formally opposed the policy since its late-September launch. The move sets up a direct clash with President Lee Jae Myung’s administration.
Song said, “At the very least, President Lee Jae Myung should reconsider the visa-free entry policy for Chinese nationals.” He added that visa waivers are a privilege granted by a sovereign nation and that “not granting it cannot be considered discrimination.” His remarks escalated earlier criticism from individual lawmakers who had urged delays or repeal.
Rep. Na Kyung-won in late September pressed for a pause, and on October 11, Rep. Joo Jin-woo labeled the program “a license for espionage.” The PPP leadership’s stance now makes the dispute a core political fight over border controls and tourism policy.
Policy details and timeline
- The measure was approved at a tourism task force meeting on August 6, chaired by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok.
- It allows organized Chinese tour groups of three or more to enter without visas between September 29, 2025, and June 30, 2026, with stays of up to 15 days.
- Officials earlier forecast roughly 1 million additional visitors to lift spending across retail and hospitality.
- China has permitted visa-free entry for Korean nationals since November 2024.
- Seoul’s measure is temporary and focused on group tours, aimed at boosting tourism and retail through greater arrivals.
Security incidents cited by PPP
PPP leaders cited two incidents occurring in the program’s early weeks:
- On October 15, police arrested three Chinese nationals who had entered under visa-free rules and were caught stealing jewelry at a downtown Jeju shop.
- On September 29, six Chinese visitors who arrived by cruise ship at Incheon Port vanished the same day; three weeks later, they remained missing.
Opponents argue these cases reveal regulatory blind spots when large groups move quickly through airports and seaports without prior vetting. A senior PPP official summarized the party’s view: crimes and disappearances “already occurred less than three weeks into the program,” showing “how difficult it is to regulate abuse of the system.”
Important: PPP leaders say these incidents demonstrate security risks that warrant reconsidering or halting the program.
Politics, public opinion, and economic stakes
The debate sits at the intersection of politics, public sentiment, and economic interests.
- A Gallup Korea phone survey of 1,001 adults (conducted Tuesday–Thursday) put President Lee’s job approval at 54%, with 35% disapproving.
- Among disapprovers, foreign policy was the top concern at 18%.
- Pro-China policies, including the visa-free program, accounted for 8%.
- PPP figures warn that attracting Chinese tour groups could deter domestic tourists, potentially shifting travel patterns and hurting local tourism businesses.
- Industry groups were early supporters of the program, and officials projected about 1 million extra visitors over nine months to spur spending—an argument supporters continue to emphasize.
Partisan responses
- Lawmakers in the Democratic Party of Korea rejected the PPP’s warnings as xenophobic fearmongering.
- Rep. Ko Min-jung criticized Rep. Na for “singling out specific people as a source of insecurity,” calling it “a textbook example of far-right politics rooted in xenophobia.”
- The exchange highlights a sharp partisan divide over tourism, policing, and border rules.
Policy status and traveler guidance
- The government has kept the program in place so far. Officials approved the plan on August 6 and opened the window on September 29 to run through June 30, 2026.
- For travelers: groups of at least three Chinese nationals can enter without visas during the specified window and stay up to 15 days.
- Official guidance is available from the Korea Immigration Service: https://www.immigration.go.kr/immigration_eng/index.do
Analysis and context
- Analysts at VisaVerge.com note that fast-moving visa experiments often trigger political tests when incidents occur early, especially in places with preexisting scrutiny of tour-group behavior.
- In South Korea, Jeju Island’s long-running debates over arrivals were cited by PPP figures, who reference past local surveys showing strong support for scaling back access.
- Rep. Na pointed to polling in which more than 70% of Jeju residents favored ending the island’s earlier visa-free setup for Chinese visitors.
- That local history now colors the national conversation as the PPP presses to halt the new policy nationwide.
Competing arguments
Supporters:
– Say the expected rise in visitors—about 1 million—could provide a timely infusion for small businesses tied to tour routes and give retail and hospitality a boost.
Critics:
– Argue that security concerns and lost confidence among domestic travelers could undercut the anticipated economic gains.
– Warn that framing the policy as a national-security risk linked to a nationality may fuel bias and harm Korea’s global image and ties with China.
Where things stand
- Friday’s call marked the first formal opposition from top PPP leadership since the program launched in late September.
- By raising the matter at a National Assembly meeting, Rep. Song Eon-seog signaled a push to revisit the decision and weigh security risks against tourism goals.
- PPP leaders maintain that ending visa-free entry would be a sovereign policy choice, not discrimination.
- Democratic lawmakers continue to frame the PPP’s stance as harmful to Korea’s reputation and as rooted in xenophobia.
Police in Jeju confirmed the three suspects accused of jewelry theft had entered under the program. At Incheon, authorities said the six missing visitors arrived by cruise ship on the day of the rollout and then disappeared; there was no update three weeks later.
For further official information on visas and entry policy, see the Korea Immigration Service: https://www.immigration.go.kr/immigration_eng/index.do
This Article in a Nutshell
On October 17, 2025, the People Power Party (PPP) formally urged an immediate end to South Korea’s newly launched visa-free program for Chinese tour groups, citing security risks after early incidents. Approved on August 6 and effective from September 29, the program allows organized Chinese groups of three or more to enter without visas for up to 15 days through June 30, 2026. Officials projected roughly 1 million additional visitors to boost retail and hospitality. PPP leaders pointed to an Oct 15 jewelry theft in Jeju and six visitors who vanished at Incheon on Sept 29 as evidence of regulatory blind spots. The Democratic Party dismissed PPP warnings as xenophobic, deepening a partisan divide over tourism, border controls and economic benefits. The government has kept the program in place while lawmakers debate potential revisions; travelers and industry groups await further guidance from the Korea Immigration Service.
