South Korea has announced a temporary visa waiver for Chinese tour groups in a bid to boost tourism and improve strained bilateral ties. Starting September 29, Chinese group tourists will be able to enter the country without a visa until June 30, 2026, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok’s office said on Wednesday. This marks the first time South Korea has extended visa-free access to Chinese tour groups nationwide. Chinese travelers remain South Korea’s largest source of foreign visitors, with around 2.5 million arrivals in H1 2025. The move follows China's own visa-free policy introduced last November, which allows South Koreans to stay in China for up to 15 days.