South Korea has announced visa easing measures targeting Chinese and Southeast Asian tourists as part of its strategy to reach 30 million annual foreign visitors. Residents of 14 Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai now qualify for multiple-entry visas valid up to 10 years, while travelers from 11 countries with prior South Korea visits can receive five-year multiple-entry visas. The move follows Korea’s 2025 pilot visa-free policy for Chinese group tourists. In 2025, 5.79 million Chinese visited South Korea, up 18.5% YoY, while 3.16 million Koreans traveled to China, up 37% YoY. South Korea recorded a record 18.94 million foreign visitors in 2025.

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