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In a landmark announcement from August 6, 2025, South Korean authorities confirmed a temporary visa‑waiver program permitting organized tour groups from mainland China to enter South Korea without a visa, effective from September 29, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The initiative, unveiled by Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok, is intended to stimulate foreign tourism ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, to be held in Gyeongju from October 31 to November 1.

This is the first instance in which Seoul has extended visa-free travel to Chinese tour groups beyond the limited scope of Jeju Island. Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok emphasized that easing visa rules for Chinese group tourists was a strategic measure to “revitalize regional economies and fuel domestic consumption” amid a broader economic recovery. South Korea’s tourism ministry also reinforced that timing this move just before China’s Golden Week holiday would significantly boost inbound visitor numbers, supporting key industries such as hospitality, retail, casinos, and cosmetics.

Chinese Ambassador Dai Bing hailed the policy as “good news for Chinese travelers,” highlighting the mutual benefits of increased people-to-people exchanges between the neighboring nations. He remarked that frequent interpersonal connections could deepen mutual understanding and strengthen diplomatic bonds. This visa-free scheme follows a reciprocal move by Beijing in November 2024, when China began allowing South Korean citizens—and others—to enter visa-free for a range of short-term visits.

The market reaction was swift: shares of major South Korean retailers and tourism-linked companies surged. Notably, Hyundai Department Store jumped 7.1 percent, Hotel Shilla rose 4.8 percent, Paradise casino operator gained 2.9 percent, and Hankook Cosmetics jumped nearly 9.9 percent on expectations of rising Chinese demand.