JAKARTA - South Korea announced it will allow Indonesian tourists travelling in groups of three or more to enter without a visa on a trial basis until July 2026, part of a sweeping tourism package unveiled on February 25 to attract 30 million inbound visitors by 2030.

The measures were announced at the 11th National Tourism Strategy Meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, chaired by President Lee Jae Myung and attended by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, ministers from 15 government agencies, and tourism industry representatives. It was the first time a sitting president had chaired the meeting since 2019. 

Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young characterised the global popularity of Korean cultural exports as a "golden time" for the domestic travel industry, launching an initiative titled "K-Tourism Embraces the World."

Indonesian tourists wishing to use the visa-free scheme must apply through travel agencies approved by the South Korean Embassy. Separately, citizens of China and other Southeast Asian nations who have previously visited South Korea will become eligible for five-year multiple-entry visas, while residents of major cities in those countries can apply for 10-year visas.

South Korea welcomed 18,936,562 visitors in 2025, up 15.7 percent from 2024 and surpassing its pre-pandemic peak, but the figure remains far behind Japan's record 43 million arrivals in the same year, a surge partly driven by a historically weak yen.

Beyond visa changes, the package includes expanding automated immigration gates to EU nationals, increasing direct international flights to regional airports, and a zero-tolerance crackdown on price gouging targeting tourist-facing businesses. 

A "Visit Korea Year" campaign is planned for 2027 to 2029, built around lifestyle products including K-beauty trails, K-food tours, and cultural stays modelled on Spain's parador system. 

President Lee said tourism must become a "core national strategic industry" that converts K-culture fandom into real visits and distributes economic gains beyond central Seoul.