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Now, this photo shows Japanese tourists who are about to travel to Korea, waiting in a long line to apply for a visa.
Correspondent Park Sang-jin from Tokyo reported that the Korean embassy was crowded like this as Japanese tourists, which had been suspended due to Corona, were allowed to enter for the first time in two years.
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From early in the morning, there was a long line in front of the consulate building of the Korean Embassy in Tokyo.
Starting this month, Japanese individual tourists are also waiting to apply for a visa as they will be able to enter Korea if they receive a visa.
[I fell in love with K-pop and wanted to go to Korea (I am so happy that I was able to enter Korea).]
Yesterday (the 1st), we distributed the waiting list for applications from 8:30 in the morning, but as soon as it ran out, we camped in front of the consulate and stayed up all night. People also appeared.
Visa issuance usually takes 3 to 4 weeks, but Japanese people who have applied are already full of anticipation to go to Korea.
[Kawaguchi, Takada, Onuma: I want to go to a drama filming location or eat a lot of delicious food, I'm happy.]
Yesterday, one person applied for 17 passports at once, so starting today, only two people are allowed per person.
Initially, the Tokyo consulate prepared a waiting list for visa application at 200 sheets per day, but one person may apply for multiple people, so it is reduced to 150.
The consulate also increased the number of visa officers from three to eight.
[Bae Taek / Consul-General in Tokyo: We are processing about 300 people (per day) including business visas and tourist visas.
The fact that Japanese people are very interested in things going to Korea…
.]
Both Korea and Japan were able to stay for a short period of 90 days without a visa, but the Japanese government suspended visa-free entry and issuance of tourist visas for Koreans in March 2020 due to the spread of Corona 19, and the Korean government took the same action.
(Video coverage: Han Chul-min, Moon Hyun-jin)