Over 51,000 South Koreans Sign Petition to End Visa-Free Entry for Chinese
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Over 51,000 South Koreans have signed a petition on the National Assembly's "National Consent Petition" website demanding the abolition of visa-free entry for Chinese citizens . The petition, published on August 31, 2026, calls for comprehensive strengthening of foreign entry screening and crime management mechanisms . It references rising foreign crime rates in South Korea and recent violent incidents involving Chinese nationals on Jeju Island as key concerns .
Key Points
- A petition titled "Demand for Banning Visa-Free Entry for Chinese and Strengthening Foreign Entry Screening and Crime Management" was posted on the South Korean National Assembly's National Consent Petition website on August 31, 2026
- As of noon on September 12, over 51,000 people have signed, exceeding the threshold for official National Assembly consideration
- Statistics cited in the petition show 35,296 foreign criminal suspects in South Korea in 2024, representing a 6.8% increase from the previous year
- The petition highlights multiple violent cases involving Chinese nationals on Jeju Island in recent years as a specific trigger for public concern
- Petitioners advocate for permanent or long-term bans on re-entry for foreigners expelled after committing serious crimes, and a unified information management system integrating immigration, police, and prosecution data
Why It Matters
The petition reflects growing public anxiety about the intersection of immigration policy and public safety in South Korea . It underscores the challenge governments face in balancing economic benefits from tourism against national security concerns, particularly as cross-border crime becomes increasingly sophisticated .
The petition reflects growing public anxiety about the intersection of immigration policy and public safety in South Korea . It underscores the challenge governments face in balancing economic benefits from tourism against national security concerns, particularly as cross-border crime becomes increasingly sophisticated .