The Korean government has announced a series of measures aimed at facilitating the entry of foreign tourists into the country and boosting the tourism sector. One of the main initiatives concerns the extension of the K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) system to a wider range of travelers and languages.
The K-ETA is an electronic travel authorization that allows nationals of around 112 countries to enter South Korea for a short-term tourist stay, without having to obtain a visa. Currently, the K-ETA application process is only available in English on the mobile app, on Android or iOS.
According to the Ministry of Justice, the K-ETA system will be expanded to support more languages, including Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay and Indonesian. The K-ETA website will also be translated into these languages.
Improving the tourist experience
Beyond entry formalities, the government's plan also aims to improve the overall experience of tourists during their stay in Korea. Here are just a few of the measures planned:
| Measurement | Description |
|---|---|
| Mobile applications | Existing mobile mapping applications will offer services in English and Chinese, so that tourists can access information in their own language. |
| Public transport | Tourists will be able to buy prepaid travel cards using foreign credit cards, even before they arrive in the country. |
| Luggage delivery | The luggage delivery service, which carries passengers' luggage from KTX stations to their hotels, will be extended to 16 stations across the country, compared with 9 at present. |
| Cultural events | Cultural events showcasing the latest Korean trends will be organized throughout the country. |
The Korean government will also be working closely with local authorities to train translators in lesser-used languages such as Vietnamese, Thai, Malay and Indonesian, to improve the reception of tourists from these regions.
As part of theLocal 100"To promote tourism in rural areas, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced that the Minister will personally visit each of the 100 regions selected in 2024 and 2025 to highlight these hidden treasures.
Finally, according to a press release from the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism dated April 5, 2023, the government has introduced a "K-culture visa"The aim is to enable foreigners to train in institutions linked to Korean culture, particularly in the field of K-pop.
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