Sep 17, 2025 AM EDT - Jason

Visa-Free Policy for Chinese Tour Groups Tests Korea’s Balancing Act

South Korea's decision to allow Chinese package tour groups to enter the country without visas later this month has stirred a heated public reaction. The initiative, which begins on September 29 and runs until June 2026, is described by the government as a limited experiment to boost tourism and signal goodwill to Beijing. At the same time, the decision has unsettled many Koreans, reviving worries about public health, safety controls,