South Korea welcomes first arrivals under visa-free entry for Indonesian group tourists

South Korea's Ministry of Justice said it welcomed the first arrivals under the visa-free entry program for Indonesian group tourists at Incheon International Airport on June 22, 2026. As of June 28, 2026, the joint press release and attached HWPX file posted on Korea Policy Briefing described the arrival as a first step toward attracting more Indonesian tourists and expanding tourism exchanges between the two countries.

This article distinguishes the tourist visa-free entry program from student visas. The program concerns entry convenience for group tourists and must be treated separately from the immigration status required for degree programs or Korean-language training in South Korea.

Key points from the official announcement

According to the release, the travelers entered South Korea under the visa-free entry program for Indonesian group tourists and were welcomed by officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Incheon Airport Immigration Office. The ministry said it expects the program to contribute to greater people-to-people exchange and to Korea's tourism sector.

What international students should not misunderstand

The term “visa-free” does not mean that every purpose of stay in South Korea is permitted. Degree programs at Korean universities are generally linked to D-2 status, while non-degree training such as Korean-language study is linked to D-4 status. Because tourist visa-free entry is intended to facilitate entry for tourism, a separate visa procedure must be checked for study purposes such as admission, enrollment and long-term stay.

Indonesian students preparing to apply to a Korean university should check university admissions guidelines, the certificate of admission, proof of finances, whether a change of status is possible, and TOPIK or English-language requirements before focusing on news about tourist visa-free entry.

KST checklist

Official sources

The immigration status required for visiting South Korea, language training and degree study differs according to purpose. Students preparing to study in Korea should first identify the visa route based on their intended program and admission date.