Mirella Pandjaitan
Mar 02, 2026
South Korea is preparing to introduce visa-free entry for Indonesian tourists as part of an ambitious plan to attract 30 million international visitors annually by 2030. The proposed policy would initially apply to Indonesian travellers arriving in groups of at least three people, under a pilot scheme designed to simplify entry procedures and stimulate inbound tourism.
The initiative was discussed during the 11th National Tourism Strategy Meeting, led by President Lee Jae Myung and attended by Prime Minister Kim Min Seok and senior ministers. It forms part of a broader national campaign titled “K-Tourism Embracing the World,” aimed at leveraging the global momentum of Korean culture.
According to reports, the group-based visa-free arrangement is still being finalised and will undergo a trial phase before full implementation. Authorities plan to evaluate the programme’s effectiveness before expanding its scope.
The move follows the success of similar regional strategies. Japan, for example, recorded a fourfold increase in Indonesian arrivals after easing visa regulations. South Korea hopes to replicate this growth by lowering entry barriers while strengthening its global tourism competitiveness.
In parallel, the government is expanding five-year multiple-entry visas for travellers with prior visit histories and increasing the number of automated immigration gates at major airports to streamline arrivals and reduce waiting times.
Previously, South Korea had waived visa fees for Indonesian group tourists applying through authorised travel agencies under the C-3-2 visa category, a policy extended through June 2026. The KRW 18,000 visa fee was temporarily removed, with similar exemptions applied to select markets including China, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
President Lee has positioned tourism as a strategic national industry — not merely an economic sector, but a form of cultural export that delivers experiences and long-term brand value. The global popularity of K-pop, Korean dramas, and Korean cuisine continues to drive demand, transforming digital fandom into real-world travel.
While full visa-free access for individual Indonesian travellers remains under discussion, the pilot programme signals a clear policy direction. If successful, the framework could be expanded, making travel to South Korea significantly more accessible for Indonesian visitors in the near future.