"Missing Out on Benefits of China-Led Reopening"…Chinese Media Criticizes South Korea's Measures

Government Extends Restrictions on Short-Term Visa Issuance to China
Chinese Netizens Criticize, "Why Discriminate Against China?"

Regarding South Korea's decision to extend restrictions on issuing short-term visas to Chinese nationals until next month, Chinese state media claimed that South Korea would "miss out on the benefits of Chinese people's 'revenge consumption' in overseas travel."

Global Times: "South Asian countries have become the winners of 'revenge travel'"

On the 11th, when China completely suspended the issuance of short-term visas to Korean nationals as a retaliatory measure against South Korea's strengthened quarantine measures for arrivals from China, the China Visa Issuance Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, showed a quiet scene. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

The Global Times, affiliated with the People's Daily and representing the Chinese authorities' stance, stated on the 29th, "China is ready to resume overseas group tours next month, but countries like France and South Korea have imposed entry restrictions on China."

Earlier, South Korea decided to extend the restrictions on issuing short-term visas to Chinese nationals, originally set to end this month, until next month due to concerns over a possible resurgence of COVID-19 amid the massive population movement during the Chunje (Chun Jie, Chinese New Year) period. France also extended the mandatory COVID-19 testing for arrivals from China until February 15.

In response to these measures, the media emphasized China's position that "there was no surge in COVID-19 infections during the Chunje period, and epidemic prevention policies should not be discriminatory," calling the restrictions an "unnecessary infection concern."

It further highlighted, "South Asian countries have welcomed tens of thousands of Chinese travelers and have become the biggest winners of Chinese people's 'revenge travel' during the Chunje holiday."

According to the well-known Chinese travel agency Ctrip, overseas travel during the Chunje period increased by 640% compared to the previous year, with Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia being the most visited destinations.

Chinese Netizens Criticize: "Why Are We Being Discriminated Against?"

Visitors who came to the China Visa Issuance Center in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 11th, when China completely suspended the issuance of short-term visas to Korean nationals as a retaliatory measure against South Korea's strengthened quarantine measures for arrivals from China, are making inquiries about visa issuance. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Meanwhile, China has resumed issuing visas to Japan, but the suspension of visa issuance to South Korea is expected to continue for the time being.

Japan has mandated testing for arrivals from China but has not imposed visa issuance restrictions to block Chinese entry. In contrast, South Korea stopped issuing short-term visas to Chinese nationals from the 2nd and announced it would extend the application period, originally set to end this month, until the end of next month.

Some Chinese netizens have expressed dissatisfaction with South Korea's visa restriction extension. Through platforms like Twitter, Chinese netizens showed negative reactions such as "I will never travel to South Korea again" and "South Korea is stupid. Why discriminate against Chinese tourists?"