JakartaGlobe-July 14, 2024
South Korea is considering offering visa-free entry to boost the number of visitors from Indonesia, a diplomat said recently. If implemented, the policy would be reciprocal, as South Korea is one of 20 countries enjoying Indonesia’s visa-free entry facility. “In order to increase the exchange of visits between South Korea and Indonesia, visa-free entry must be implemented. The South Korean Embassy is intensifying efforts to make that happen,” said Lee Sung-yong from the South Korean Consulate in Jakarta, who oversees visa policy. In the meantime, the Korean Embassy is relaxing visa issuance procedures for Indonesian visitors by excluding financial document requirements for group visits. Visa is not required for Indonesians visiting Jeju Island, he added. Kim Jisun, director of the Korea Tourism Organization’s Jakarta office, aims for 300,000 Indonesian visits to South Korea this year. Indonesia has been among the top ten contributors to overall international visits in South Korea in recent years, Kim said. Last year, around 250,000 Indonesian tourists visited South Korea, according to the organization’s data. “After evaluating recent data, we are confident of achieving the target because 135,000 Indonesians already visited Korea between January and May,” he said. Additionally, there are several direct flights from Indonesia to Korean cities such as Busan. Kim mentioned that the Hallyu Tourism Festival will be held later this year to attract more visitors from Indonesia, offering opportunities to enjoy traditional Korean cuisine and watch popular Korean dramas and pop music performances. Read more at: https://jakartaglobe.id/lifestyle/south-korea-mulls-visafree-entry-for-indonesia
