Chinese State Media: "Visa-Free Policy for Chinese Group Tourists Is a Strategic Measure"

Global Times and Global Times Lend Their Support

On September 29, when visa-free entry for Chinese group tourists was implemented, Chinese group tour guides were leading the way at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Jongno-gu, Seoul. 2025.9.29 Photo by Kang Jinhyung

Chinese media have voiced strong support for the expansion of bilateral cooperation beyond the economic sphere, using the implementation of the visa-free policy for Chinese group tourists as a catalyst.

On September 29 (local time), the state-run Global Times published an editorial stating that the significance of the visa-free policy between Korea and China goes beyond economic benefits, as the Korean government temporarily implemented the visa-free policy for Chinese group tourists ahead of China's National Day holiday.

The Global Times noted that, given Korea’s slowing economic growth since last year, there are high expectations in Korea for a recovery in the tourism industry. It also pointed out that in the first half of this year, Chinese nationals accounted for 28.6% of all foreign tourists visiting Korea, the largest proportion among all nationalities.

The editorial evaluated Korea’s visa-free policy as an initiative to promote private exchanges and enhance political trust, emphasizing that Korea is the first among major advanced countries to implement such a policy and that it serves as a symbolic pilot case.

It also stated that since China began its visa-free policy for Korean visitors in November last year, many Koreans have witnessed China’s development firsthand and have changed outdated perceptions about the country.

The Global Times stressed that the mutual visa-free policies between Korea and China are not merely economic measures, but strategic steps to foster friendship and cooperation, as well as to promote regional integration.

The editorial further asserted that visa facilitation is only the first step, and that the key challenge for the future is how to normalize the pilot implementation of the visa-free policy. It called on the Korean side to improve service quality and ensure the safety of Chinese tourists.

Particularly, the editorial mentioned anti-China protests in Korea, noting that "the Lee Jaemyung administration has already announced measures to regulate such activities," and expressed hope that Korea would guarantee the safety of Chinese tourists and foster a positive social atmosphere to improve Korea-China relations.

On the same day, the Global Times, the English-language newspaper affiliated with the People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, also wrote in an editorial that "Korea’s decision to allow visa-free entry for Chinese group tourists will promote people-to-people exchanges and political trust through concrete action," adding that "it is the first such case among major advanced countries and carries symbolic pilot significance."

The editorial went on to say that "the visa-free policy between Korea and China is not simply an economic choice, but a strategic measure to promote friendship, expand cooperation, and advance regional integration," emphasizing that "the visa-free system is only the first step and the key is to transition from a pilot program to a permanent system."

It added, "To achieve this, Korea must improve the quality of tourism services, ensure the safety of Chinese tourists’ lives and property, and appropriately handle potential disputes. Only by doing so can the achievements of people-to-people exchanges be transformed into deeper trust and cooperation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.