Entry to Korea Eased for Citizens of 14 Additional Countries Including Japan and France as Smart Entry Service Expands

According to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) on the 1st, the list of countries eligible for SES has expanded from the previous four—Germany, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau—to include fourteen additional nations. The newly added countries are the United Kingdom (UK), France, Italy, Finland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Hungary, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Japan, Singapore, and United Arab Emirates (UAE).
As of last year, the average immigration screening wait time ranged from 30 to 90 minutes. With the implementation of SES, this is expected to be significantly reduced.
The MOJ explained that the additional countries were selected based on criteria such as whether they already allow Korean nationals to use their own SES, the volume of people-to-people exchanges with Korea, diplomatic relations, and domestic issues related to illegal stays. The locations for SES pre-registration have also been expanded beyond the existing West side of Terminal 1 Arrivals Hall at Incheon International Airport to include the East side of Terminal 1 and both the East and West sides of Terminal 2 Arrivals Hall.
8 million people—will be able to use SES. The ministry also plans to analyze the results of the pilot operation at Incheon International Airport through January next year before deciding whether to expand the service to airports nationwide.
Jung Sung-ho, Minister of Justice, remarked, "The expansion of SES is a practical measure to reduce the inconvenience experienced by foreign visitors during the entry process.
We will continue to improve the system to provide a more convenient and positive entry experience for those visiting Korea.
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hwlee@fnnews.com Lee Hwan-joo Reporter