Anti-Korean sentiment spreading across Southeast Asia has raised concerns as Indonesia becomes eligible for visa-free travel to South Korea.
The Korean government unveiled its "visa-free card" for Indonesian tourists as part of its goal to attract 30 million foreign visitors by 2030. At the 11th National Tourism Strategy Meeting on the 25th, the government announced a "major transformation in inbound tourism and regional tourism leap forward" strategy.
The most notable change involves more liberal immigration policies. Indonesia, a key tourism market, will pilot visa-free entry for group tourists of three or more. Currently, Indonesian tourists must obtain visas before entering Korea.
Tourists from China and Southeast Asian countries with prior Korea travel experience will be eligible for five-year multiple-entry visas. Residents of major cities in China and Vietnam will be able to apply for 10-year multiple-entry visas. The automated immigration system will expand from 18 countries to include major nations such as the European Union.
Southeast Asians Say "We Won't Buy Korean Products"... What About Travel Demand?
Anti-Korean sentiment has been brewing in Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia. The conflict was triggered at a Day6 concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on January 31. Video footage spread on social media showing Korean fans being stopped while attempting to film with prohibited large telephoto lens cameras. Local fans took issue with the incident, and Korean netizens responded in kind, escalating tensions.
Boycott movements against Korean products have emerged locally. According to the Jakarta Post and other outlets, calls for boycotts of Korean products are growing on social media, particularly in Malaysia and Indonesia. Samsung smartphones and Olive Young have been named as boycott targets.
Experts predict the controversy could reduce travel demand from Southeast Asia. Lee Hoon, professor of tourism at Hanyang University, said, "If a dispute between individual netizens spreads through local media and forms a negative image of Korea, travel demand from Southeast Asia could decline."
He added, "The government has established measures such as the visa-free pilot program, so private organizations like the Korea Tourism Association should work to create a friendly atmosphere between both sides to stimulate travel demand."
Last year, 370,000 Indonesian tourists visited Korea. Attention is now focused on how much this number will increase following the visa-free pilot program. In Japan's case, Indonesian visitor numbers quadrupled over a decade after the country allowed visa-free entry in 2014.