South Korea Seeks More Visa Staff as Chinese Visitor Numbers Climb

South Korea's embassy in Beijing has asked for more staff to handle visa services as Chinese visitor numbers and visa applications rise sharply. Ambassador to China Ro Jae-hun set out the request during a parliamentary audit held at the South Korean Embassy in Beijing on 20 October 2026.

Key facts

• 5.02 million Chinese tourists visited South Korea from January to August 2026, up 27.4% year on year
• Visa applications at eight Korean visa centres in China rose 43% to more than 1.24 million in the same period
• The embassy has proposed adding personnel responsible for visa services and simplifying administrative procedures
• The New Yalu River Bridge linking Sinuiju and Dandong opened on 15 October after 12 years
• Commemorative projects are planned for next year, the 35th anniversary of South Korea-China diplomatic relations

What did the ambassador say about visas?

Ambassador Ro said the embassy is proposing to increase the number of personnel responsible for visa services and to simplify administrative procedures. He framed the move as a response to the growing number of Chinese visitors to South Korea and the rise in visa applications.

He also asked the National Assembly to normalise the budget needed for in-person diplomatic activities and to support commemorative projects for the 35th anniversary of South Korea-China diplomatic relations next year. According to the ambassador, the embassy's event budget this year fell by about 56% compared with 2022, when the COVID-19 pandemic was widespread.

How many Chinese travellers are visiting South Korea?

From January to August this year, 5.02 million Chinese tourists travelled to South Korea, a 27.4% increase on the same period a year earlier. Over the same months, visa applications received at the eight Korean visa centres in China grew 43% to more than 1.24 million.

The ambassador described wider cultural and people-to-people exchanges as showing positive signals, citing a Korea-China co-produced opera performed in Daegu in April and Beijing in September, and Hallyu star G-Dragon appearing on large outdoor billboards in major Chinese cities.

What else did the embassy report?

Ambassador Ro said South Korea is encouraging China to play a constructive role in halting North Korea's provocations and bringing it back to dialogue and negotiations. He said the embassy is monitoring developments linked to the New Yalu River Bridge, which connects Sinuiju in North Korea with Dandong in China and opened on 15 October after 12 years, to check whether expanded North Korea-China exchanges could create loopholes in UN sanctions.

He added that China continues to state that, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, it is faithfully implementing sanctions against North Korea. On other sensitive issues, he said South Korea is maintaining a firm stance on historical and cultural matters, illegal fishing by Chinese vessels in the West Sea and the Taiwan issue while strengthening communication with Beijing.

What this means for travellers

Chinese travellers applying for South Korean visas should expect continued high demand at the eight Korean visa centres in China. The ambassador's proposals for extra visa staff and simpler procedures have not yet been given a start date or implementation timeline in the source.

No changes to visa rules, fees or processing times have been announced. The ambassador's requests are directed at the National Assembly as part of a budget and personnel appeal.