Domestic and international tourists watch the traditional changing-of-the-guard ceremony at Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul, Dec. 19. Yonhap

Korea will consider a pilot program next year allowing Chinese tour groups to enter the country without a visa, as part of efforts to recover from setbacks in the tourism sector caused by President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law and subsequent impeachment, the government said Thursday.

The initiative, aimed at boosting the nation's tourism industry, was revealed during a meeting led by acting President Han Duck-soo at the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan District, Seoul. The meeting was attended by ministers and vice ministers from 11 ministries, as well as tourism industry officials and experts.

The measures come amid concerns that the aftermath of the martial law fiasco could extend into the first half of next year.

As the number of inbound visitors to Korea this year stood at 13.74 million from January to October, according to the Korea Tourism Organization, the country's ambitious goal of bringing 20 million by the end of the year is unlikely to be achieved amid the ongoing political turmoil.

The iconic shopping and tourism district of Myeong-dong in central Seoul is crowded with domestic and international tourists, Dec. 19. Yonhap

The government has set a target of attracting 18.5 million foreign tourists next year. While this is lower than this year's target of 20 million, it exceeds the 17.5 million figure from 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, when foreign tourist numbers to Korea reached a record high.

To achieve this, the government is actively considering allowing Chinese tour groups to enter the country without a visa. Currently, Chinese tourists are allowed to stay visa-free for up to 30 days, but only on Jeju Island.

The government did not specify the duration of the visa waiver initiative.

The move comes after the Chinese government implemented a visa waiver program for South Koreans. Since Nov. 8, the Chinese government has allowed passport holders from nine countries, including South Korea, to stay in China without a visa for up to 15 days.

Chinese tour groups arriving by cruise ship can also disembark in Korea without a visa and stay for up to three days.

The government will push for the plan as a pilot project and decide whether to make it a permanent rule after 2026.

To prevent the potential for illegal immigration, the government will grant visa-free stays only to tourists invited by authorized Chinese tour group agencies. It will also strengthen regulatory measures for travel agencies to better prevent illegal stays.

Tourists enjoy sledding at Ttukseom Hangang Park in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

Meanwhile, the temporary exemption from the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) for foreigners entering Korea without a visa will be extended for another year until December 2025.

In addition, the temporary exemption of visa fees ($15) for tourist groups from six countries, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia and India, will also be extended until the end of next year.

The government also plans to actively host large-scale events and campaigns in the first half of next year to attract foreign tourists, allocating about 70 percent of the annual tourism budget for these initiatives.

It will expand the Korea Grand Sale, held annually from January to February, to offer tourists discounts on airline tickets, department store goods, duty free products and convenience store items. Additionally, a Hallyu festival will be held in June next year.

The Korea Beauty Festival will be expanded from June to July next year, and activities will be hosted to cater to foreigners visiting the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, inviting them to also go sightseeing in Korea.

"The world's interest in Korean culture is driving more people to visit Korea, turning the everyday lives of Koreans into a key part of the tourism experience,” Han said, noting that the country's tourism market has recovered to pre-COVID levels.

"Concerns persist that the recent domestic situation may hinder the recovery of Korea's tourism market. The government will implement various measures to facilitate the tourism market's recovery," he added.