South Korea will allow visa-free entry for Chinese group tourists from September 29, 2025, through June 30, 2026, a temporary move aimed at lifting inbound travel and calming tense ties with Beijing. The policy, announced as visitor numbers rebound, targets a record year with forecasts showing more than 20 million foreign arrivals in 2025, with a sizable share coming from China. Officials say the measure is designed to spur spending in local economies, support service jobs, and strengthen the country’s appeal in a competitive regional tourism market.
Under the plan, the visa waiver covers only organized groups from China rather than individual travelers. Authorities frame the step as reciprocal, noting that China last year extended visa-free stays for Korean citizens from 15 to 30 days, creating a more open travel channel between the two countries. The program’s limited window gives Seoul time to test demand, monitor border operations, and assess security controls before deciding on any extension.
Key Terms and Official Reference
- Effective period: September 29, 2025 to June 30, 2026
- Scope: Visa-free entry for Chinese group tourists only
- Purpose: Boost inbound visitor numbers, lift regional economies, and increase domestic consumption
- Official reference: Visa guidance and travel information are available through the Korea Immigration Service at https://www.immigration.go.kr/immigration_eng/index.do
Important: Entry under the waiver remains subject to standard immigration checks, and the waiver does not cover travelers outside recognized organized groups.
Forecasts and Visitor Statistics
- Chinese tourists accounted for about 28.1% of foreign visitors in early 2025, with 5.58 million arrivals in the first four months — a 14.6% year-on-year rise.
- Korea is projected to welcome 20.09 million foreign visitors in 2025, generating roughly USD 20.25 billion in tourism revenue.
- Within that total, Chinese travelers are expected to reach 5.29 million for the year, remaining the largest source market.
Those figures come from studies by the Hyundai Research Institute and Yanolja Research and underscore the stakes for hotels, tour operators, airlines, and city governments planning for peak seasons.
Policy Details and Timeline
The program spans nine months and is timed to capture important travel peaks:
- Starts just ahead of China’s Golden Week holiday period.
- Runs through late spring 2026, another period when group travel often rises.
- Focused on group travel to make visits easier for tour organizers while keeping flows predictable at major airports and seaports.
Authorities will use the window to:
1. Test demand for organized group travel.
2. Monitor border and immigration operations.
3. Assess security controls and operational capacity.
If metrics on arrivals, average spend, and regional distribution are strong, the government may consider changes after June 2026. No commitment to extension has been made; future decisions will factor in demand, staffing at entry points, and public safety.
Economic Stakes and Market Reaction
Tourism recovery is central to several service sectors. Forecasts suggest 2025 foreign visitors could generate roughly USD 20.25 billion in travel receipts — about 2.5% of domestic spending in 2024.
Sectors expected to benefit most:
– Duty-free retail: Group itineraries typically include stops at flagship duty-free stores, boosting sales of cosmetics, fashion, and electronics.
– Casinos: Foreign groups can increase table turnover and hotel occupancy tied to gaming floors.
– Hotels and transport: Coordinated arrivals help fill rooms across mid-range and upscale properties and sustain bus and domestic air routes.
– Cultural attractions: K-culture sites, museums, and theme parks often appear on group schedules, lifting ticket and F&B revenue.
Market watchers and travel analysts note:
– Organized group itineraries have high per-visitor spend, often combining guided shopping, performances, and dining packages.
– VisaVerge.com reports the visa-free window is viewed as a catalyst for tourism-linked stocks, given those spending patterns.
– Researchers caution that patterns can shift with changes in China’s economy or geopolitics, but view the waiver as a clear near-term boost.
Diplomatic Context and Outlook
Seoul is balancing a strong alliance with the United States while seeking steadier ties with Beijing. South Korea’s foreign minister (reported as Cho Hyun) described relations with China as “somewhat problematic,” underscoring the rationale for confidence-building steps.
China’s top diplomat Wang Yi has called for the two countries to be “genuine strategic cooperative partners,” language that signals support for people-to-people exchanges ahead of the visa window.
Longer-term tourism goals:
– The “Visit Korea Years” campaign and the 6th Basic Tourism Promotion Plan aim to reach 30 million foreign visitors by 2027.
– Chinese group tourists are expected to remain central to achieving that milestone, making smooth implementation of the waiver important for provincial governments and small businesses that rely on weekday bus tours and bulk sales.
Practical Effects for Travelers and Businesses
For travelers:
– The change reduces paperwork and speeds travel decisions for organized group participants.
– Tour operators can confirm bookings without waiting for visa approvals, shortening lead times.
For businesses:
– Airlines can adjust seat supply more precisely.
– Tour operators and local businesses can rebuild group-oriented product lines — menus, shopping stops, and shows — tuned to post-pandemic preferences.
Monitoring and Potential Outcomes
The government will monitor the program throughout September 29, 2025–June 30, 2026, reviewing:
– Visitor numbers and spending patterns
– Regional distribution of arrivals
– Staffing and operational performance at border checkpoints
Officials have not published specific thresholds for extension, but they have emphasized that the goal is to lift inbound demand while maintaining entry screening.
Key takeaway: If group demand meets projections and spending spreads beyond central Seoul, the policy could become a model for targeted, seasonally timed waivers. If external shocks arise, tourism agencies may pivot to diversify source markets while keeping China as a core focus.
For now, the message from Seoul is straightforward: South Korea is open to groups from China — and it wants them to come, spend, and return.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
South Korea will test visa‑free entry for Chinese group tourists from September 29, 2025 to June 30, 2026, aiming to boost spending and service jobs. Focused on organized groups, the temporary waiver seeks predictable flows during peaks, supports duty‑free and hospitality sectors, and allows officials to evaluate security and demand before extension.
