On September 29, 2025, the Republic of Korea launched a nine-month, visa-free pilot program for Chinese tour groups, marking a new chapter in China-ROK ties. The move follows China’s unilateral visa exemption for ROK citizens introduced last November and is designed to turbocharge South Korea’s domestic economy by tapping into the spending power of Chinese travelers.
Prior to the pandemic, Chinese visitors made up nearly half of all foreign arrivals in the ROK, peaking at more than eight million in 2016. Despite a dip to six million in 2019 after the THAAD deployment and the impact of COVID-19, numbers have rebounded to 2.02 million in 2023 and 4.6 million in 2024—already more than a quarter of all inbound tourists.
The timing of the visa waiver—just ahead of China’s National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays—signals Seoul’s ambition to reignite tourism peaks and support its retail, hotel and hospitality sectors. Data from Qunar.com shows searches for flights to Seoul spiked by almost 70 percent following the August announcement.
Chinese visitors are also the ROK’s top spenders, shelling out an average of $1,689 per person in 2019—far surpassing American and Japanese tourists. South Korean duty-free shops, airlines and hotels have welcomed the policy, anticipating a surge in group tours that could ease sluggish domestic demand.
Beyond immediate gains, the visa-free policy reflects a broader strategy of diversifying the economy and reducing reliance on specific export markets. As global supply chains shift and trade protectionism rises, bolstering domestic consumption—powered by high-spending tourists—has become a strategic priority for Seoul.
With borders opening wider and travel corridors healing, young global citizens can look forward to richer cultural exchanges and new experiences in one of Asia’s most dynamic destinations. For entrepreneurs and thought leaders, the policy offers fresh data on cross-border tourism’s role in economic resilience. And for digital nomads and explorers, the streets of Seoul are once again calling with vibrant markets, historic landmarks and culinary adventures.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
