South Korea eases Chinese journey visas however Southeast Asia rivals, Iran warfare cloud outlook

The South Korean embassy in Beijing introduced that Chinese nationals who had beforehand visited South Korea would now be eligible for a five-year multiple-entry visa.

Those holding residency standing in 14 main cities – together with Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou – may additionally apply for 10-year multiple-entry visas, the embassy mentioned this week. In addition, staff of Chinese firms which have invested at the least US$1 million in South Korea had been additionally eligible for 10-year multiple-entry visas.

The measures come amid enhancing bilateral ties, as Beijing and Seoul proceed to ease journey limitations. South Korea has granted visa waivers to Chinese tour teams of three or extra individuals since September, whereas China has allowed visa-free entry for South Koreans since November 2024.

“The new measure is seen as a driving force that could significantly increase the number of frequent repeat visitors travelling for short weekend trips, K-pop, food and shopping,” mentioned Jang Soo-cheong, a professor of hospitality and tourism administration at Purdue University and director of Yanolja Research.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, the speed of Chinese travellers revisiting South Korea stood at 54.3 per cent, lagging behind Japan’s 76.5 per cent and Thailand’s 79.2 per cent. The price was additionally down from 57.9 per cent within the fourth quarter of 2024.