China Scraps Restrictions for Korean Tourists

China will resume short-term visas for Koreans on Saturday after Korea made the same decision on Feb. 11, the Chinese Embassy in Seoul said Wednesday.

This ends a visa spat between the two countries that saw China retaliate peevishly for Korean restrictions as COVID infections surged in the world's most populous country.

China will also allow Korean transit passengers to stay in Chinese cities without a visa for up to 144 hours.

China stopped short-term visas for Koreans on Jan. 10 in protest against Korean entry restrictions and halted visa exemptions for transit travelers from Korea the next day. On Feb. 1, it also made it mandatory for travelers from Korea to undergo COVID tests on arrival.

Flights between the two countries remain limited, but they could increase soon. Korea hopes to be added to China's list of countries authorized for group tours, which bring lucrative business to hotels and retailers here.