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社评:中韩免签的意义不止于经济层面
Huan Qiu Wang·2025-09-29 15:45

Core Points - The South Korean government has implemented a visa-free entry policy for Chinese group tourists starting September 29, coinciding with the Chinese National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival, which is expected to boost the struggling South Korean economy [1][2] - The tourism sector is seen as a vital engine for domestic demand and job creation, with Chinese tourists being the largest group of foreign visitors to South Korea, accounting for 28.6% of inbound tourists in the first half of this year [1][3] - The average spending of Chinese tourists in South Korea was $1,689 in 2019, significantly higher than that of American and Japanese tourists, highlighting the economic importance of this demographic [1][3] Industry Response - The South Korean tourism and retail industries are actively launching promotional activities tailored to the preferences and payment methods of Chinese tourists, viewing the new visa-free policy as a significant opportunity [1][2] - The visa-free initiative is a reciprocal action to China's previous visa-free policy for South Korean citizens, reflecting a broader trend of countries responding positively to China's opening up [2][3] Long-term Implications - The mutual easing of visa policies between South Korea and China is seen as a strategic move to enhance friendship, cooperation, and regional integration, with the potential to transform temporary measures into permanent policies [3][4] - The South Korean government is urged to improve tourism service quality and ensure the safety of Chinese tourists to foster deeper mutual trust and cooperation [3][4]