- To enhance understanding of the new Korean administration’s policy for the protection of overseas Koreans and to review response readiness to increasingly complex and diverse incidents and emergencies abroad -

1. On Tuesday, July 29, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the 2025 meeting of consular safety officers to China and Mongolia in Qingdao, China.

2. The meeting was attended by officials from the Consular Affairs and Safety Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and consular safety officers from 11 diplomatic missions in China and Mongolia. The participants sought to enhance their understanding of the government policies and systems for protecting overseas Korean nationals and discussed ways to better protect and strengthen consular support for Korean nationals residing in or traveling to the two countries.

3. Given the growing number of Korean nationals visiting China and Mongolia due to the two countries’ visa waiver policies for Koreans and with the summer vacation season just around the corner, the meeting particularly focused on the preparedness of each mission to respond to a potential increase in incidents and accidents involving Korean citizens. China is exempting visa requirements until the end of this year for Korean nationals visiting the country for tourism, business, family visit, transit and exchange purposes. Similarly, Mongolia is also exempting Korean tourists from visa requirements until the end of this year.

4. Presiding over the meeting, Mr. Yoo Byungseok, Deputy Director-General of the Consular Affairs and Safety Bureau, emphasized that given the growing complexity and variety of incidents and emergencies occurring in China and Mongolia, it is important to identify safety risks in advance and preemptively inform Korean nationals of those risks so that they can avoid them. He also asked the officers to continue seeking effective ways to raise Korean nationals’ awareness and take heed of the unique legal systems and cultural norms in China and Mongolia so that they can avoid incidents related to them.

5. Furthermore, Deputy Director-General Yoo asked the consular safety officers to remain fully prepared to respond to the evolving overseas safety environment, emphasizing that the new administration places a top priority on safeguarding the lives and well-being of its citizens and is committed to building a stronger safety net for overseas Koreans.