[AJA Global Report] Russian become easily travel to Korea by Visa-free entry

Russia and Korea getting closer

Korea became closer to Russian from this year – visa-free entry allows a great number of people easily travel between these countries. Russians were free to visit Jeju island before, but now they could travel all over South Korea and Koreans, in turn, could visit Russia.

Russian tourists visited Korea after visa-free entry and they are eating Mandooguk. (Photo from Kazakova Nadezhda)

According to Korean experts’ predictions, made in the beginning of this year, free-visa entry introduction (60 days continuous stay and 90 days within 180 days) will lead to great increase in number of Russian tourists in Korea: if more than 160 thousand Russians visited Korea last year, and 20-40% increasing is forthcoming this year. But the data collected by the end of this May shows that free-visa entry already lead to increasing of number of Russian tourists by 36% and Korean tourists in Russia – by 61%. Also Korean government added that they expect the number of Russians visiting Korea annually will increase twice and reach 350 thousand people by 2017.

Seems like Russia and Korea got a chance to become closer and know each other better. “The more often we will visit each other, the better we will understand each other. The importance of People diplomacy is increasing in recent years, that’s why free-visa entry will serve to form objective image of Russia in Korea” – said general council of Russia in Busan, Osmakov Andrei in the interview to “Rossiiskaya gazeta” newspaper.

To understand what Russian people really think about visa-free entry I made an opinion poll. 80 people aged 15-35 years were asked did the visa-free entry introduction affect them personally. All people were divided into two equal groups: usual people and those who are interested in visiting Korea (Korean studies students, people studying Korean language, Hallu fans and so on).

And the results were following.
The first group (usual people) answered that way:
– Yes, I already visited Korea as tourist – 7.5%
– Yes, I am going to visit Korea as tourist soon – 10%
– No, did not influences, I have another plans\obstacles – 65%
– No, I haven’t even ever thought about that – 17.5%
*The answer «I am planning to visit Korea by study\work visa» was also provided, but nobody had chosen it among 40 people examined.
So as we can see the implementing of visa-free entry did not influenced much on Russian society, but let’s have a look at another part of results.
– Yes, I already visited Korea as tourist – 2.5%
– Yes, I am going to visit Korea as tourist soon – 25%
– I am planning to visit Korea by study\work visa – 30%
– No, did not influences, I have another plans\obstacles – 35%
– No, I haven’t even ever thought about that – 7.5%

So as we can see the results are different – the introduction of visa-free entry influenced much on people’ decision go or not to go to Korea. Also I shall mention that interviewed people are residing in the central part of Siberia and traveling to Korea (transportation) costs a lot, so they still have an obstacle to go. At the same time people living in Russian Far East are visiting Korea much more often, especially now, after visa-free entry implementation. Another problem for Russians was that you need to go to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Irkutsk or Vladivostok to get a visa. It was a big problem for a lot of people residing far from these cities: you need to go there personally, or pay to courier service or to travel agency. Anyway additional costs and nervous waiting never were pleasant. But now you just can just buy ticket and go whenever you want – says Zagorskaya Veronika (24, master).

A russian girl is experiencing a Korean traditional clothes 'Hanbok'. (Photo from Markova Irina)

Tokareva Aleksandra (22,student) has been planning trip to Korea for a long time in order to learn Korean culture, visit sightings and collect some data for thesis. So the visa-free entry didn’t influence much at her, but, anyway, helped to save some money. At the same time it helped her friend, Saryglar Arzhaana (22, student), whom they came with, to make final decision – she understood that she really wants to visit Korea, see this country by herself.

Potapova Marina (23, designer-decorator) considers the implementation of visa-free entry to be really important and convenient: if you suddenly get an opportunity to go to Korea, you just buy ticket and next day you are there. Also Korea will hold the Olympiad in 2016 and more Russian will have an opportunity to go to Korea for this event.

Anyway, the visa-free entry is a new step forward in getting better relations between Russia and Korea and it already pays off not just as economical issue, but more as a tool for getting better relations between people of Russia and Korea. Politics will always be politics, but human should stay human.

By Evgeniia Karmanova, Russia, AJA Global Reporter