S. Koreans to begin visa-free travel to U.S. from Nov. 17

SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korean citizens will be allowed to visit the United States visa-free starting Nov. 17, when the visa waiver program (VWP) for South Korea goes into effect, authorities said Friday.

South Korea is among seven new member states added to the VWP, along with
Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
The program allows nationals from these countries to stay in the U.S. for up to
90 days without a visa.
"VWP travelers will be required to carry an electronic passports and receive
clearance via the online Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior
to travel," the Foreign Ministry said.
The South Korean government began full-scale issuance of electronic passports,
which are designed to deter forgery, in August.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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