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Reuters
6 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
South Korea to offer visa-free entry to Chinese tourists from late September
SEOUL, Aug 6 (Reuters) - South Korea will offer visa-free entry to tourist groups from China, for a temporary period from September 29 through June 2026, to boost foreign tourism ahead of an Asia-Pacific summit, the government said on Wednesday. The visa-free offer was first announced in March after China's decision last November to offer a visa exemption to South Koreans and foreign visitors from other countries. It also comes amid expectations that ties between the two countries will improve under the new South Korean administration of liberal President Lee Jae Myung. The decision to introduce the measure ahead of a Chinese holiday period in early October will help boost the domestic economy amid a recovery in foreign visits, the tourism ministry said, after a meeting to discuss measures to revitalise tourism ahead of the Asia-Pacific summit. South Korea will host a summit of leaders from 21 economies for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum from October 31 to November 1 in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, a gathering where Chinese leader Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump might hold separate talks. Shares of South Korean department stores, casinos, hotels and beauty product makers rallied on hopes of a boost from Chinese demand. Hyundai Department Store ( opens new tab shares jumped 7.1%, Hotel Shilla ( opens new tab rose 4.8%, casino operator Paradise ( opens new tab climbed 2.9% and Hankook Cosmetics ( opens new tab surged 9.9%. (This story has been refiled to say free, not fee, in the headline)
Reuters
6 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
South Korea to offer visa-fee entry to Chinese tourists from late September
SEOUL, Aug 6 (Reuters) - South Korea will offer visa-free entry to tourist groups from China, for a temporary period from September 29 through June 2026, to boost foreign tourism ahead of an Asia-Pacific summit, the government said on Wednesday. The visa-free offer was first announced in March after China's decision last November to offer a visa exemption to South Koreans and foreign visitors from other countries. It also comes amid expectations that ties between the two countries will improve under the new South Korean administration of liberal President Lee Jae Myung. The decision to introduce the measure ahead of a Chinese holiday period in early October will help boost the domestic economy amid a recovery in foreign visits, the tourism ministry said, after a meeting to discuss measures to revitalise tourism ahead of the Asia-Pacific summit. South Korea will host a summit of leaders from 21 economies for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum from October 31 to November 1 in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, a gathering where Chinese leader Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump might hold separate talks. Shares of South Korean department stores, casinos, hotels and beauty product makers rallied on hopes of a boost from Chinese demand. Hyundai Department Store ( opens new tab shares jumped 7.1%, Hotel Shilla ( opens new tab rose 4.8%, casino operator Paradise ( opens new tab climbed 2.9% and Hankook Cosmetics ( opens new tab surged 9.9%.
Korea Herald
7 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Seoul shares close nearly flat with mixed sector performance
South Korean stocks finished nearly unchanged Wednesday as gains in tourism and retail shares offset losses in semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. The local currency slipped against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index climbed 0.14 point, or 0 percent, to close at 3,198.14. Trade volume was a little slim at 319.8 million shares worth 10.7 trillion won ($7.7 billion), with winners outnumbering losers 644 to 236. Foreigners and institutions sold a net 67.5 billion won and 53.7 billion won worth of local shares, respectively, while retail investors purchased a net 46.9 billion won. Tourism and retail shares led the daily gain following the government's decision to start a visa waiver program with Chinese group tourists from next month. Hotel Shilla jumped 4.79 percent to 49,250 won, and Shinsegae increased 3.27 percent to 176,900 won. Major cosmetics firm AmorePacific rose 1.26 percent to 128,800 won, and Kolmar Korea gained 2.79 percent to 99,400 won. Energy shares were also among the winners, as Doosan Enerbility mounted 2.31 percent to 66,300 won and the state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. vaulted 7.44 percent to 41,150 won. However, chip and drug stocks went south as Trump said again he would announce new tariffs on those imports soon. Chip giant Samsung Electronics fell 1.57 percent to 68,800 won, and its rival SK hynix retreated 1.9 percent to 258,500 won. SK Biopharmaceuticals tumbled 8.89 percent to 101,500 won, and Samsung Biologics dropped 1.9 percent to 1,031,000 won. The local currency was quoted at 1,389.5 won against the greenback at 3:30 p.m., down 1.2 won from the previous session. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
All about Korean-style bridal showers
With a modern twist, bridal showers join pre-wedding traditions for young Korean women Throwing a bridal shower for a bride-to-be has become a trendy part of modern Korean culture. But it's hard to pin down exactly when this tradition took root. The earliest mentions in Korean media date back to 2009, when an article in the Donga Ilbo, a local daily, credited hit American TV shows like 'Sex and the City' and 'Friends' for introducing the concept to young Koreans. The article highlighted a young woman hosting a small bridal party with her college friends at a restaurant in Gangnam. Back then, bridal showers felt more like a rare and unique activity than a cultural phenomenon. By 2011, however, the idea had gained traction. Media outlets began reporting on the growing popularity of these celebrations, marking the rise of what is now a common pre-wedding ritual for many young Korean women. A slight Korean twist While Korean bridal showers take inspiration from American customs, they've evolved into something uniquely their own. In Korea, gift-giving is often skipped. Instead, the focus is on creating a visually stunning event. Beautifully decorated spaces, stylish photoshoots and quality time with close friends -- often accompanied by delivery food -- define these gatherings. Park Do-yeon, 30, shared her experience. 'We rented a rooftop Airbnb in Itaewon. A friend bought flowers in bulk at Yangjae Flower Market to decorate the space, and we ordered a custom cake. After taking lots of pictures, we shared delivery tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) together.' Park explained that friends don't typically bring gifts to the celebration because they traditionally give congratulatory money later at the wedding. 'I don't think another gift is necessary,' she said. For Han Ji-ae, 35, who got married last year, her friends went all out. 'They threw me a party at a party room in Jamsil. They didn't have to decorate the room much because it was already set up with balloons, flowers, and even white dresses that we could wear for photos,' Han said. Han explained that since Korean wedding ceremonies are so quick, it was nice to spend quality time with her closest friends, who were genuinely happy for her. 'My friends brought a cake and a bottle of champagne. After taking lots of pictures, we enjoyed some spicy stir-fry hot pot that we had delivered. We also tried doing eccentric makeup on each other's faces. We were laughing a lot while doing that,' she said. For those looking to splurge, many high-end hotels now offer bridal shower packages as well. Hotel Shilla, for example, launched a package in May last year that includes a flower-adorned room, pink balloons, LED candles and a private dining experience. 'We introduced the package after noticing a trend among our guests hosting marriage proposal events and bridal showers. Since last year, we've continued to offer this service,' a Hotel Shilla spokesperson told The Korea Herald. The official added that pricing varies depending on the room type and additional requests, such as decorations and cakes. Interestingly, the bridal shower trend has sparked creative spinoffs among men, too. 'A group of my male friends threw a funny 'bridal shower' for the groom-to-be after they found out about it online,' said Park. 'He wore a white T-shirt with a funny picture of himself, and the friends wore black T-shirts with the same image. The photos were hilarious!' Just for Instagram? With over 1.37 million Instagram posts under the Korean term for 'bridal shower,' it's clear the trend isn't slowing down. Like any trend, Korean-style bridal showers have faced criticism. Some see them as expensive spectacles overly focused on social media. 'It's a meaningful event, but the time and cost can be overwhelming,' Park said. 'I'm getting married this year, but I've asked my friends not to throw me one. It feels like it's becoming more about Instagram and less about genuine celebration.' The cost is also burdensome for many Koreans. Holding a shower at a hotel can cost more than 1 million won, Park said. 'My friends and I did it at an Airbnb, so we spent a lot less, but we still spent quite a lot for a special cake and decorations.' In October last year, a post on the app Blind -- an anonymous community for work-related discussions -- went viral. A bride-to-be complained that her fiance refused to contribute financially to her bridal shower. She compared him to a friend's fiance, who booked a hotel suite and provided a credit card to order food for the celebration. Han admitted the comparisons can be frustrating. 'One of my friends had her shower fully covered by her dad and the groom. I couldn't afford a hotel, and it was hard to tell my friends this.'
