Tourists walk at Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul, South Korea, April 2026. Photo by Hoang Phong
South Korea has begun issuing 10-year multiple-entry visas to residents of 14 Chinese cities to compete with Southeast Asian destinations that have relaxed entry rules for Chinese travelers.
The South Korean embassy in Beijing announced that Chinese nationals with prior travel history to the country are now eligible for five-year multiple-entry visas, and residents of urban centers such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou for 10-year multiple-entry visas, the South China Morning Post reported.
The policy extends to employees of Chinese companies that have invested at least US$1 million in South Korea, making them eligible for long-term visas.
According to South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the initiative is aimed at attracting high-spending, repeat independent travelers from China and boosting bilateral travel flows, China Travel News reported.
China remains South Korea’s largest inbound tourism market, with 5.48 million Chinese visiting last year.
Countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore have waived visa requirements for Chinese nationals.
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