U.S. citizens to be allowed 90-day visa-free visit to S. Korea

SEOUL, Nov. 16 (Yonhap) -- U.S. citizens will be allowed to visit South Korea for
up to 90 days visa-free starting this week, a reciprocal measure to Korea's
membership in the U.S. visa waiver program, the Justice Ministry said Sunday.
Korea is among seven new member states that will be added to the U.S. visa waiver
program on Monday, 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.
The Justice Ministry said Seoul, too, will expand the visa-free travel period for
U.S. nationals from the current 30 days to 90 days.
"As the visa waiver program goes into effect on Nov. 17, we are implementing this
policy based on mutual principles," the ministry said in a press release.
Visas will still be required for U.S. citizens seeking to engage in activities
other than tourism, such as finding employment in Korea, or those who will stay
more than 90 days, the ministry added.
Koreans traveling to the U.S. are required to carry electronic passports and
receive travel authorization on the Web site of the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security three days prior to entry.
The visa waiver will prompt a surge in the number of Koreans visiting the U.S.,
according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The number of Koreans
traveling to the U.S. is expected to increase to 1.2 million annually, up 50
percent from 800,000 people last year, according to the ministry report submitted
to the parliament last week.
Spending could hit US$1.32 billion, assuming each Korean traveler to the U.S.
spends an average of US$3,300, it said.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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