Travelers passing through South Korea now have the opportunity to make the most of their layovers by availing themselves of various tours while awaiting their connecting flights. According to the Korea Tourism Organization Manila, transiting passengers in Seoul can access different tour options and even enjoy visa-free entry to Korea.
Passengers holding visas for the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and 32 European Union countries can stay in Korea visa-free for up to 30 days. Additionally, those traveling to a third country not covered in the aforementioned list are eligible for a visa-free stay of up to 3 days.
Travelers opting for the 3-day visa-free entry programs in Korea must book either the Free Transit or K-Stopover tours to qualify.
The Free Transit Tour caters to passengers with layovers of less than 24 hours in Korea. Tours vary from 30 minutes to 5 hours and cover destinations like Younggungsa Temple, Paradise City Art-tainment, Songdo Central Park, Hongdae Street, Gwangmyeong Cave, and affiliated golf courses.
On the other hand, the K-Stopover program offers attractively priced packages to locations such as Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi-do, and other local tourist destinations.
These transit programs are a collaborative effort between airlines and airports.