Chinese tourists still subject to South Korean immigration rules, contrary to online claims
After South Korea granted an without visa entry to Chinese travel groups at the end of September 2025, publications on social networks in Korean language falsely affirmed that all Chinese nationals were no longer subject to immigration requirements, such as passports or reports on disease. However, the new travel rules only apply to Chinese nationals going to South Korea with pre-approved travel agencies, and passports remain OBLIGATORY.
“From September 29, when the Chinese entered South Korea: no necessary visa; no necessary original passport; they do not need to reveal their accommodation address; even if they carry an infectious disease, this will only be known if they indicate it themselves”,ADS Korean language text in a shared image on September 29 on threads.
Screenshot of a post post captured on September 30, 2025, with a red X added by AFP
The position appeared the same day that the South Korean government introduced a temporary program without visa for Chinese group tourists. The policy, which takes place until June 30, 2026, allows groups of three or more to travel in visits to organized packaging to enter the country without asking for visas in advance (archived link).
Officials said the plan aims to stimulate tourism and support local businesses, especially in areas such as Myeong-Dong in Seoul, which has increased from Chinese visitors since the start of the program (archived link).
But the announcement has also fueled a wave of online anti-chinese feelings, with conspiracy theories warning crime and dissemination of the disease without control. Demonstrations against Chinese immigration also took place across the country (archived link).
Identical claims have spread on Instagram, as well as on South Korean Nate Pann and Ilbe forums. The articles depict the measure without visa as a threat to public security.
However, the Ministry of Justice has told AFP that rumors FAKE.
Spokesperson Hwang Gyu-Taek on October 2 said The policy without visa applies “only to Chinese tourists traveling in groups of three or more through travel agencies that have been pre-approved by the South Korean government”. Individual travelers remain subject to an existing visa requirements, which must be satisfied in advance.
He added that “a valid passport is compulsory for all arrivals abroad, regardless of visa status”.
All visitors must complement the Electronic arrival cardwhich requires details such as accommodation, contact details and the purpose of the stay. Hwang noted that the lists of tourist tourists of incoming groups are projected in advance to individuals (archived link).
South Korea also maintains quarantine and health surveillance systems, with infectious diseases riddled in airports and compulsory reports required for suspicious cases. The entry does not depend on the voluntary self-assessment alone, said Hwang (archived link).
Yu Min-Yi, principal researcher at the IOM research and migration training center, also told AFP that “these four claims are not true” (archived link).
“It is simply impossible to enter South Korea without passport-even the president could not do so,” she said, adding that quarantine procedures are applied equally to all arrivals abroad.
She confirmed that accommodation details must be declared in the context of entry requirements. For visa-free arrivals, the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) system guarantees that this information is collected in advance (archived link).
