China is expected to allow group tours to Korea starting Friday

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China is expected to allow group tours to Korea starting Friday

Published: 10 Aug. 2023, 10:11 Updated: 10 Aug. 2023, 10:12

A group of Chinese tourists enjoy chimaek, a combination of beer and Korea fried chicken, in Incheon on June 15. [YONHAP]

Chinese tour groups are expected to flood the streets of Seoul as early as tomorrow as China is expected to lift its ban on group tours to Korea for the first time in six years.

Beijing reportedly communicated with the Korean Embassy about its intention to reinstate Korea in its overseas group tour destinations since Korea was effectively excluded in March 2017.

The change, if it takes place, would be effective starting Friday, according to a source.

China has banned group tours to Korea since 2017 as part of its retaliation against Korea's deployment of the U.S.-led Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system. Only individual Chinese tourists could travel to Korea.

BY ESTHER CHUNG, MOON SANG-HYUK [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]