Korean embassy announces 3 ways to enter Korea without visa

The Korean Embassy in the Philippines on Thursday announced three ways to enter Korea without a need for visa.

In an announcement, the embassy said the following tourists no longer need to secure a visa when going to South Korea:

• tourists in transit to third countries
• foreign transfer passengers, and
• tourists to Jeju may enter the country visa-free.

Eligible applicants of tourists in transit are nationals from countries not belonging to the 24 excluded countries that are not granted visa-free entry to Korea.

The 24 excluded countries are Syria, Sudan, Iran, Macedonia, Cuba, Republic Of Kosovo, Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Ghana, Yemen, Gambia, Senegal, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Somalia, Uzbekistan, Nepal, Cameron, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Egypt.

Others, meanwhile, must hold a visa to the United States, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand or a visa, or permanent residency, to at least one of the 30 European countries who transit through Korea bound for the country of origin or a third country.

According to the embassy, the tourist must "have a confirmed onward flight ticket for departure within 30 days after entering Korea, in addition to having no record of criminal offence such as overstay in the countries mentioned above"

Meanwhile, eligible applicants for foreign transfer are those "transferring through the Incheon Airport and taking part in the Transit Tourism Program on their way to a third country or the country of their nationality."

This is not applicable to citizens of the 24 excluded countries, the announcement said.

It further added that those visa-free travel is applicable for those visiting Jeju, except those belonging to the 24 excluded countries.

Individuals may stay in the area for 30 days as long as they used a direct international flight or ship to Jeju Island. —MDM, GMA News