A petition submitted to South Korea's National Assembly calling for a ban on visa-free entry for Chinese nationals has drawn more than 60,000 signatures. It cleared the 50,000-signature threshold required for parliamentary review in less than two weeks after being posted and has since been referred to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.
The petition, titled "Petition Urging a Ban on Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Nationals and Stronger Immigration Screening and Crime Management for Foreigners," was posted on the National Assembly's public petition website on Aug. 31 and formally took effect on Sept. 12 after gathering more than 50,000 signatures, according to the site on the 16th. It was referred to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the relevant standing committee, on the 14th.
The petitioner called for a halt to visa-free entry for Chinese nationals and for tighter screening at the border to more thoroughly verify criminal records, international wanted status and any history of illegal residence. The demands also included stricter management of departures by foreigners facing criminal allegations, tighter restrictions on re-entry by those convicted of serious crimes, and expanded information sharing between immigration authorities and police.
Visa-free entry for Chinese nationals currently operates through two channels. A temporary nationwide program, which began on Sept. 29 last year, applies to tour groups of three or more people organized by designated travel agencies. It had been scheduled to end in June this year, but the government extended it through Dec. 31. Visitors may stay for up to 15 days. Jeju Island operates a separate visa-free program under which both individual and group travelers may stay for up to 30 days.
Crime statistics involving foreigners were also cited as grounds for the petition. According to data the Korean National Police Agency submitted to the National Assembly, 34,763 foreign suspects were apprehended last year, down 533 from 35,296 a year earlier. By nationality, Chinese nationals accounted for the largest share at 15,391, followed by Vietnamese at 3,838 and Uzbekistanis at 2,145. The figures represent absolute arrest counts rather than crime rates adjusted for the resident population of each nationality, however, limiting the value of direct comparisons.
The petitioner said the intent was not to exclude foreigners but to build a properly functioning immigration system that puts the safety of citizens first.
