UK ties see fewer South Korean US visitor visas as refusals hit 24.7%

South Korean applicants for US visitor visas faced a sharply higher chance of refusal last year, with the adjusted refusal rate reaching 24.73 percent between October 2024 and September 2025. That is up 9.76 percentage points from the previous fiscal year, according to data from South Korea's Foreign Ministry released by Rep. Kim Dai-sik of the opposition People Power Party on Monday.

Key facts

• Period covered: October 2024 to September 2025
• Refusal rate for South Korean nationals: 24.73 percent, up 9.76 percentage points year on year
• B visas issued: 12,226, down 21.2 percent from 15,508
• Who is counted: B visitor visa applicants, excluding South Koreans travelling visa-free under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
• Comparison: United Kingdom 20.44 percent, Japan 5.68 percent, France 9.67 percent, Germany 12.22 percent

Which visas do the figures cover?

The data relate to B visitor visas. The B-1 visa covers temporary business visits, while the B-2 visa is intended for tourism, medical treatment and visits to family or friends.

South Koreans travelling visa-free under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) are not included in the figures. The ministry noted that differences in who is required to apply for a visa make direct comparisons with countries outside the visa waiver program difficult.

How does South Korea compare with other countries?

South Korea's refusal rate was higher than those of several other visa waiver participants. The United Kingdom recorded 20.44 percent, while Japan, France and Germany stood at 5.68 percent, 9.67 percent and 12.22 percent respectively.

Refusal rates for the UK and France also rose, but by only 2.41 and 1.17 percentage points. China's rate fell from 25.37 percent to 20.21 percent, while India and Vietnam recorded 22.05 percent and 22.08 percent. None of those three countries participates in the visa waiver program.

Why are more visas being refused?

The exact reasons for individual refusals are unclear. "Exact reasons for visa refusals are difficult to determine, as the US does not disclose them," a Foreign Ministry official told Kim. The official suggested that immigration becoming a contentious domestic political issue in the US may have led to tighter visa screening policies.

Rep. Kim Dai-sik questioned whether bilateral relations had also played a role, calling for an examination of whether South Korea's diplomatic and defence policies toward the US, and changes in relations between the two countries, contributed to the refusals. He cited wider opposition party concerns about Seoul-Washington relations, including Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha's remarks at a parliamentary audit on Oct. 12 about difficulties communicating with the White House and a planned US visit by ruling Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok that was postponed earlier this month. The source notes those developments occurred more than a year after the period covered by the visa data.

What this means for travellers

South Koreans who need a B-1 or B-2 visa for business travel, tourism, medical treatment or family visits should be aware that refusals were more common in the year to September 2025, and that fewer visas were issued overall. Travellers who qualify for visa-free travel under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization are not affected by these figures.

No changes to US visa rules, fees or application procedures are announced in the data. The figures cover the period to September 2025, and no updated statistics for later months have been released.