Following prolonged tensions between the two countries over COVID, Seoul decided to remove visa requirements for Chinese visitors.
In light of China’s improved COVID-19 situation, South Korea has decided to resume issuing short-term visas to visitors from China.
The government made the decision to resume regular short-term visa application procedures at its consulates in China on Saturday after a Friday anti-virus meeting.
However, officials warned that depending on how the virus evolved, the testing requirements might later be relaxed.
The move marks the end of a long COVID-related restriction that had sparked tensions with Beijing.
Seoul and Beijing at loggerheads
In December, China abruptly ended its stringent “zero-COVID” policy, leading to a wave of infections.
This raised the prospect of millions of Chinese travellers making their way abroad for the first time in three years.
In January, while China battled a surge of COVID infection cases, Seoul stopped issuing most short-term visas.
Travelers rush to take advantage of China reopening
This raised business concerns, as South Korea depends heavily on exports to China.
Seoul defended their actions, saying that the spread of the virus in China was creating concern over the possible emergence of new variants.
It also accused the Chinese authorities of not being transparent with their COVID data.
South Korea’s Vice Interior Minister Kim Sung-ho, who is in charge of disaster and safety management, said the move to lift restrictions came after the number of infections among Chinese arrivals dropped significantly.
When the curbs were first introduced in January, 20% of Chinese travelers to South Korea had tested positive.
Last week only 1.4% of Chinese travelers tested positive on arrival.
Other restrictions, including testing requirements continue to remain in place.
Travelers from China have to produce a negative test before departure and undergo a PCR test upon arrival in South Korea.
Those who test positive are to stay quarantined for a week.