Good news travelers! You can now catch on to the Korean wave and travel to Jeju island starting on June 1.
Pinoys and interested foreigners entering South Korea can go through international airports on Jeju Island and in Yangyang-gun County, Gangwon-do Province without entry visas — as long as they comply with quarantine guidelines.
As the COVID-19 cases continue to decline in the country, “visa-free entry from June 1 will be allowed at the Jeju airport, which suspended its visa-waiver program in February 2020, and the Yangyang airport, which is in a region preparing international events,” Minister of the Interior and Safety Jeon Hae-cheol announced on May 4.
Except for travelers from 24 nations announced by the justice minister (like Iran, Sudan, Syria, Palestine, and Afghanistan), international visitors can enter Jeju Island in June without a visa through Jeju International Airport for a 30-day stay.
Aside from this, Filipinos will be allowed to travel to Gangwon and the Seoul metropolitan area for 15 days without a visa.
Starting next month, tour groups of five or more people can enter through Yangyang International Airport including those from Asian countries of Vietnam and Indonesia.
If you want to experience Korean culture, this may be the time to arrange your flight as the visa-waiver program is to be continued just in time for international events in Gangwon province!
On a side note, tourists must come on tours booked through travel agencies recognized by the Gangwon province, and each group must fly in and out of Korea on the same flight.
To qualify for the visa-free program, tourists also have to enter Jeju Island via direct flights. Filipinos should keep in mind that there are currently no direct flights from the Philippines to Jeju International Airport.
But don’t worry yet! There are a number of Asian major hub airports that host direct flights including those from Taiwan, Japan, and China, so make sure to do your research first.
The visa-waiver program in Jeju Island was initially introduced in 2002 to boost its tourism but has been suspended since the height of the pandemic.
The system allows short-term stays by foreign visitors coming for tourism or business.
Jeju island is famous for its beautiful landscape scenery, beaming beach culture, and natural heritage centers. It is also the home to great filming locations including your favorite K-dramas, Boys Over Flowers, Secret Garden, and The Legend of the Blue Sea.
What are you waiting for? Invite your chingus, arrange your flights, and achieve your K-drama dreams!
Source: www.korea.net, www.visitjeju.net
