The South Korean government has formally unveiled a sweeping policy package geared toward sparking a surge in international tourism, including a pilot visa-free program for tourists from Indonesia. This initiative is a component of Seoul’s ambitious goal of attracting 30 million visitors over the following few years.
According to The Korea Times, the strategic package was announced in the course of the eleventh National Tourism Strategy Meeting, chaired by President Lee Jae Myung. The measures reflect broader government efforts to strengthen tourism as a key growth engine for the domestic economy.
Citing The Chosun Daily, South Korea will grant five-year multiple-entry visas to travelers from 11 countries in China and Southeast Asia who’ve previously visited Korea. The policy was further expanded to incorporate 10-year multiple-entry visas for residents of 14 major Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, in addition to three cities in Vietnam, including Hanoi.
Easier access and faster immigration processing
Indonesia has been included in a pilot group visa-free program, applicable to groups of travelers of three or more, as a part of efforts to lower entry barriers. According to Korea JoongAng Daily, about 370,000 Indonesian tourists visited South Korea last 12 months.
The government expects the comfort to bring significant growth, based on the experience of Japan, which saw a pointy increase in tourist numbers from Indonesia after visa-free travel was introduced in 2014.
In parallel, South Korea is expanding its automated immigration system to incorporate European Union residents, adding to the 18 countries that already use this facility. The variety of automatic gates may also be increased to hurry up entry and exit procedures.
To further support the flow of tourists, cruise terminals in Busan will begin 24-hour trial operations. In addition to those measures, the federal government has set a goal of 23 million foreign visitors this 12 months, a step towards reaching 30 million sooner than originally planned.
Spreading guests outside Seoul
The reforms concern not only entry points but in addition the distribution of holiday makers. Currently, greater than 80 percent of tourist arrivals are concentrated in Seoul and the encompassing area.
Citing The Chosun Daily, the South Korean government plans to expand direct international flights to regional airports, offering airlines incentives to cut back fares while boosting domestic connections from Incheon International Airport.
Night airport bus services will probably be expanded to Chungcheong and Gangwon provinces. Advance booking for Korea Train Express tickets may also open earlier to make travel planning easier.
In the accommodation sector, the federal government is preparing a high quality certification system and inspiring the event of premium accommodation based on traditional architecture, including hanok houses and temple stays. The city’s homestays, which were previously closed to foreign tourists, are actually opening to each domestic and international tourists.
By Visit the Korean Year As a part of the campaign running from 2027 to 2029, South Korea may also promote lifestyle-based tourism products, from mountaineering trails and culinary experiences to treks, to encourage deeper engagement with local life.
South Korea recorded greater than 18 million foreign visitors in 2025, surpassing the pre-pandemic record of 17 million and marking a rise of about 15 percent from the previous 12 months. However, this number still lags behind Japan, which recorded 43 million visits in the course of the same period.
