Korea's visa-free policy for Chinese tour groups incites public anger

Korea’s visa-free entry program for Chinese tour groups is drawing public backlash, with more than 52,000 citizens signing a petition for its cancellation just two weeks before it is set to begin. The public backlash, amid an undercurrent of rising anti-China sentiment, is being fueled by a mix of historical grievances, economic competition and a nationalist reaction to what's perceived by many Koreans as Beijing's assertive cultural and political influence in the region. Scheduled to run from Sept. 29 through next June, the visa-free initiative has drawn criticism amid growing concerns over safety and potential abuse. Petitioners cite a mosquito-borne viral outbreak in China’s Guangdong Province, which has recorded more than 10,000 cases, warning that increased travel could threaten public health. They note that infected mosquitoes can be carried by airplanes — a phenomenon known as “airport malaria,” or more broadly, “airport-borne vector transmission,” a recognized public health risk. “The government, which is responsible for the health of its people, should immediateWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times