S. Korea to simplify visa issuance for Chinese tourists

By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, July 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will expand the multiple visa system for
Chinese visitors to attract even more people from the fast-growing group of
foreign tourists, the Justice Ministry said Thursday.
The plan under discussion includes issuing one-year multiple visas to
schoolteachers and retirees.
The current system limits this type of visa to those who have residentship in
member nations of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development,
owners of platinum or gold class credit cards and business professionals.
Ministry officials said they will hold an opinion-gathering session in Shanghai
for two days from Thursday before finalizing the plan and hope to enforce the new
visa guidelines from as early as mid-July.
The number of Chinese visitors to South Korea has steadily increased to 1.2
million in 2009, up from 585,569 in 2005, and 920,250 in 2007, according to the
ministry.
"By simplifying the visa issuance for Chinese who are less likely to stay in the
country illegally, we expect the new guidelines will boost tourism and create
more jobs," an official at the ministry said.
The ministry is also considering "double entry" visas for Chinese visitors
transiting through South Korea. This visa would allow them to enter South Korea
twice during a set period for tourism and brief visits in-between trips.
Family members of those who have single-entry visas are expected to be
automatically given the same visa, officials said.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
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