South Korea on your bucketlist? Country eases visa rules, Indian Embassy releases clarification

Are you a K-Culture fan who has had South Korea as a dream destination for long? The country's government has announced plans to ease inbound tourism, easing visa rules and expanding entry points at its airports. Once enforced, the entry and visa procedures for foreign visitors will be a lot more flexible. That said, the Indian Embassy in Seoul has also issued clarifications in the wake of a vlogger allegedly being detained on South Korea's Jeju Island. 

The waivers for various countries
Indonesia will be included in a pilot visa-waiver program for groups of three or more people. The government will also seek to introduce five-year multiple-entry visas for travellers from China and Southeast Asian countries who have prior records of visiting South Korea, and 10-year multiple-entry visas for those from major cities in China and Vietnam. An automated immigration clearance system will be expanded beyond the current 18 countries, including Japan, Singapore, and Australia, to include European Union member states, said the report.

What's in it for India
As of now, Indians require a C-3-9 short-term visa to visit South Korea, which allows tourists to stay for up to 90 days. Indians are not eligible for e-visas at the moment. It's yet to be clear whether the new waivers have relaxed rules for Indian tourists as well. There is a visa-free facility for tourists at South Korea's Jeju Island, but it doesn't guarantee entry into the rest of the country. Indian vlogger Sachin Awasthi had said that he was denied entry and later deported on his trip to Jeju Island recently. Following the incident, the Indian Embassy in Seoul has clarified that the visa-free entry is only for short-term tourism, that immigration authorities at Jeju Airport have the final say, and that the visa waiver does not guarantee entry. 

More direct flights
South Korean authorities plan to expand international direct flights to regional airports, with exclusive international air traffic rights to be designated for local airports to disperse inbound travel demand beyond Seoul and nearby regions. To attract new international routes, the government will also offer incentives, such as reductions in airport facility usage fees and subsidies. Tourism marketing will also shift toward various regions through the development of tailored travel packages and region-specific promotions.

Security screenings
With international cruise ship visitors projected to reach 1.7 million this year, the government also plans to expand immigration and security screening facilities at domestic ports and introduce expedited clearance for cruise ships, the report said.
(With inputs from IANS)