Koreans Travel to Japan Frequently... Japan Considering Introducing 'Pre-Entry Immigration Screening' at 韓 Airports

Purpose to Promote Human Exchange by Reducing Screening Time
Friendly Policy Marking 60th Anniversary of Korea-Japan Normalization Next Year

The Japanese government is reportedly considering introducing a pre-entry inspection system in which visitors traveling from Korea to Japan undergo immigration screening at Korean airports in advance.

According to a report by Kyodo News on the 3rd, citing sources familiar with Japan-Korea diplomatic affairs, the Japanese government plans to dispatch Japanese immigration officers to Korean airports to conduct immigration screening using ▲entry documents ▲fingerprints ▲photos, and after arriving in Japan, visitors would be allowed entry following a simple identity verification.

Kyodo News stated that "the purpose is to significantly reduce the screening time upon arrival and promote human exchange," and that "it is being considered as part of a friendly policy to mark the 60th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan next year."

On the 5th of last month, travelers visiting Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 lined up to depart. Photo by Jin-Hyung Kang aymsdream@

There is also a possibility that related discussions will be on the agenda when Prime Minister Kishida visits Korea on the 6th to 7th and holds a summit with President Yoon Suk-yeol. The plan to have Korean immigration officers conduct pre-entry inspections at Japanese airports for travelers departing from Japan to visit Korea is also under consideration. The two countries temporarily implemented a pre-entry inspection system by dispatching immigration officers to each other's airports during the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.

The rapid increase in foreign visitors to Japan, which has led to longer waiting times for airport immigration procedures and growing dissatisfaction, is also cited as a reason for introducing the pre-entry inspection system. The Japanese government projected that the number of foreign visitors to Japan will reach a record high of 35 million this year. Japan announced last July that it will first introduce the pre-entry inspection system for visitors departing from Taiwan next year.