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Visa-waiver entry into Jeju needs tinkering with
The recent murder of a woman in church by a Chinese man has angered Jeju residents, triggering calls for the revocation of the visa-waiver privilege to Chinese tourists.
In a matter of hours after the woman died in hospital a day later on Sunday, nearly 2,000 people signed the petition, while local papers reported anxiety and anger by the people of Jeju.
Realistically, however, revoking the visa exemptions for Chinese is not easy.
Only nationals of 11 terror-related countries are excluded from the visa waiver program so putting China on the list will be comparable to designating Beijing as a terror state. Also, Chinese visitors account for 70 percent of about 2 million annual foreign visitors to Jeju Island so any decision on their current visa status could damage its tourism-based economy. In other words, its reputation as a global open tourist destination will be put to an unnecessary test.
Therefore, a cool-headed approach is called for.
The first prong is to stiffen entry rules without affecting visa exemptions. Currently, one is required to submit his or her name, address and basic information along with a mug shot. Additional requirements such as listing verifiable spouse's or employer's names could significantly pick out "bad apples," or making possible checks on the applicants' information would likely help as well.
These measures could be made possible only through the close cooperation of Chinese authorities. The Jeju police failed to cross-check with Chinese authorities on the murder suspect's prior criminal and psychiatric record, relying on his confession that changed from time to time. The suspect strolled into a church early Saturday morning and stabbed a woman in prayer for no apparent reason. The two had never met. He, a two-time divorcee, is believed to be a typical misogynist killer.
If the overwhelming number of visitors poses a hurdle, random checks focused on individual visitors should be given a higher priority. The suspect in the churchwoman's murder was a lone traveler. Most Chinese visitors come through package programs so, if they misbehave, it is easier to acquire information and hold them responsible through tour agents, for instance.
Experts point out that Chinese tourists make light of Korean police who are less prone to using force than law-and-order officers back in their country. This explains why they lie and procrastinate even when they are caught red-handed and put in custody.
On Sept. 9, eight Chinese tourists severely beat up the proprietor of a Jeju City restaurant over alleged gauging. The Chinese beating continued even after police were dispatched. In April, a Chinese man fled after a hit-and-run incident on Jeju Island. A request for extradition has been made but no reports about the handover of the suspect are available yet.
Jeju needs to bring to justice Chinese involved in these and other cases to send a message: Korean law may not be as cruel as Chinese law but can be just as tough. Jeju Island is one of the world's new seven wonders for beauty, hospitality and, not least, safety. Any blemish to its reputation will be a loss not just to the residents but to the world. That is the reason why these unruly Chinese should be dealt with seriously and sternly.
