Japan Plans to Exempt Visas Permanently for Korean Tourists

Yomiuri Shimbun reported December 1 that the Japanese government plans to exempt visas for all Korean nationals visiting Japan starting next fall, which also happens to be the 40th anniversary in which Korea and Japan established diplomatic ties.

According to Yomiuri, the Japanese government plans to officially make its plans public during the Korea-Japan summit meeting scheduled to be held in Kagoshima, Japan on December 17 and 18. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi plans to present this statement to President Roh Moo-hyun during the meeting.

While Japan is already exempting visas for Korean students visiting Japan on school trips, Japan also plans to exempt visas for visitors to Japan in March of next year for six months in accordance with the commencement of the 2005 Aichi Expo.

Won-Jae Park parkwj@donga.com