Indonesian Ambassador in Seoul Pushes for Visa-Free Travel to South Korea

Indonesia is pursuing a visa-free policy for Indonesian citizens travelling to South Korea. The Indonesian Ambassador to South Korea, Cecep Herawan, has called on all Indonesian nationals to comply with the legal and immigration regulations in force in the Ginseng Country. This statement was made following reports of Indonesian nationals absconding from their tour groups after arriving in South Korea using the group tourist visa-free facility, which was newly implemented on 28 May. The current group visa facility, which requires a minimum of three people per group, is a tangible follow-up to the agreement between President Prabowo Subianto and South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung in April 2026. Both leaders agreed to strengthen people-to-people contact as the foundation of bilateral relations. The Indonesian Embassy in Seoul continues to push for simplified entry permits so that the mobility of citizens from both countries becomes smoother. Ambassador Cecep expressed hope that incidents involving individuals becoming illegal migrants would not recur, in order to maintain the trust of South Korean authorities. ‘If we maintain this trust together, it will make it easier for Indonesian citizens to visit friendly countries without lengthy and complicated processes,’ he added. According to data from the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul, the flow of visits between the two countries shows a positive trend. In 2025, more than 500,000 South Korean tourists were recorded visiting Indonesia. Conversely, around 350,000 Indonesians travelled to South Korea. This increase is also supported by increasingly affordable air connectivity. The presence of new airlines such as T-Way, which has been offering competitive prices since last month, is expected to serve as a bridge for increased interaction between the citizens of the two countries. Meanwhile, Indonesia and South Korea are also strengthening sustainable tourism cooperation through the Korea Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Tourism (KOPIST) programme. This programme aims to share experiences in building a resilient and environmentally friendly tourism industry in the regional area.