Exciting! Indonesians Can Visit Korea Visa-Free, Here Are the Requirements

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - South Korea is a favourite overseas holiday destination for Indonesians. The good news is that Indonesians will soon be able to enter the Land of Ginseng visa-free.

The South Korean government recently announced a major package of tourism policy reforms, including plans to grant visa exemptions to Indonesian tourists. This step is part of Seoul’s ambitious strategy to attract 30 million foreign tourists in the coming years.

According to the Korea Times, under the trial scheme, Indonesian tourists arriving in groups of at least three people will receive visa-free facilities. In addition, citizens of China and Southeast Asian countries who have previously visited Korea will be eligible for five-year multiple-entry visas.

Residents of major cities in those countries can even apply for 10-year visas. Not only that, the automatic immigration gate system at airports, which was previously available only to 18 countries such as Japan, Singapore, and Australia, will now be expanded to all citizens of the European Union.

However, the South Korean government has not yet announced when the visa-free policy trial will take place.

Throughout 2025, South Korea recorded more than 18 million foreign tourist visits, surpassing the pre-pandemic figure of around 17 million. This number rose by about 15% compared to 2024.

However, this achievement still lags far behind Japan, which recorded a record 43 million visits in the same period, driven by the weakening yen that made tourism costs more competitive.

Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young described the global momentum of K-pop, K-dramas, and Korean cultural exports as a golden age for the domestic tourism industry. The government has launched an initiative titled “K-Tourism Embraces the World” to maximise those opportunities.

The new strategy also aims to reduce the concentration of tourists in Seoul. The government will add direct international flight routes to regional airports by providing cost incentives and special air traffic rights.

Domestic connecting flights from Incheon to regional airports will be increased. Night-time airport bus services, which were previously available only on 13 routes in the Seoul area, will be expanded to Chungcheong Province and Gangwon Province. KTX high-speed train tickets will also be bookable earlier than the current one-month limit.