The waiver of visa fees for group tourists from six countries -- China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, India and Cambodia -- will be extended until year's end. Shown is a rainy day at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul's Jongno-gu District. (Korea.net DB)

By Jeong Euiseok

The waiver of visa fees for group tourists from six Asian countries will be extended until year's end, something that is expected to attract more travelers amid the global boom in Hallyu (Korean Wave).

The Ministry of Justice on July 1 announced its extension of the exemption through Dec. 31 for such visitors from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, India and Cambodia. The waiver of the fee (USD 15 or KRW 22,500) was originally set to expire last month.

This move is a follow-up measure from the last National Tourism Strategy Meeting. The ministry decided on the extension to keep attracting group tours from abroad.

The waiver is considered to have helped attract more foreign tourists to Korea. Last year, the number of visitors from abroad on group tours reached 790,000, a 39% jump from 570,000 in 2024 and driven by a steady rise in such travelers particularly from China and Southeast Asia.

The ministry said the waiver helped raise demand for group tourists, coupled with improved diplomatic relations and the spread of Hallyu.

The percentage of such tourists fleeing to stay in the country illegally was 0.07%, a significant drop from 0.19% in 2024.

The ministry said it will run and improve the visa system to stimulate tourism in the provinces and the people's livelihoods while enforcing immigration control.

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