The Ministry of Justice plans to introduce an electronic travel authorization system for visa-free overseas visitors who hope to visit Korea.
The local tourism industry is opposing the system because it may discourage travelers to visit the island.
Todd Thacker reports.

The Ministry of Justice is moving forward with plans to test the introduction of an electronic travel authorization (ETA) system that determines the eligibility of travelers to Jeju prior to departure.

[slug] ETA requires applications made 3 days prior to departure to Korea
When the new ETA system is in place, people traveling to the island will have to apply for permission at least three days in advance.
The system requires personal information including passport details, an address and contact information.
Their eligibility will then be assessed prior to departure.


[slug] ETA devised to prevent negative effects of visa-waiver program
The system is designed to counteract misuse of the visa-waiver program, which has been in effect since 2002.
The Ministry of Justice submitted a revision bill of the Immigration Control Law regarding the introduction of the new system. The bill is being reviewed by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly.

[slug] Local tourism industry opposes ETA
As the ETA is expected to be enforced in Jeju on a trial basis beginning next year at the earliest, the local tourism industry is expressing concern about its possible negative effect.

[slug] JTO, JPTA visit Ministry of Justice to resist ETA
The Jeju Tourism Organization and Jeju Provincial Tourism Association have recently held meetings at the Ministry of Justice to articulate their opposition to the plan.
They argue that the system may discourage travelers to the island, where the local economy has already seen a slowing visitor numbers and an oversupply of tour businesses.


1,225,000 non-Koreans visited Jeju last year.
Nearly half entered the island without a visa.

Non-Koreans Visiting Jeju in 2018
(Source: Jeju Provincial Tourism Association)

Total 1,225,000
42.4% (520,000) No-visa entry



[slug] ETA will raise visa restrictions and affect tourist numbers
Thus, the new system would in effect mean that Jeju’s visa waiver program will be in name only.
This will drop the number of foreigners visiting the island.

[slug] Measures not impacting tourism industry needed
The two organizations also argue that measures to prevent misuse of the visa-waiver program, like overstaying tourist visas, should not impact the local tourism industry.

Mun Seong-hwan / Jeju Tourism Organization
We conveyed to the Ministry of Justice that an ETA cannot fix problems caused by misuse of the visa-waiver program. Any countermeasures should not impact the local tourism industry.
<싱크: 문성환/ 제주관광공사 해외마케팅처장>
"ETA 도입으로 이러한(무사증 제도 폐해) 문제점이 개선되지 않을 수 있다는 부분을 (법무부에) 말씀 드렸습니다. 제도 도입이 필요하다면 관광산업에 영향을 미치지 않는 제도를 고민해야 합니다."

Originally it was Jeju provincial officials who first proposed an ETA. This was in response to increasing criminal activity by visitors to Jeju, like those overstaying their tourist visas.

[Reporter] Todd Thacker
[Camera] Hyeon Gwang-hoon
[CG] Park Hye-jin

But as the initial intent of an ETA implementation has lost focus, now local government officials and the tourism industry are finding themselves opposing the new plan.

Todd Thacker, KCTV