Extension of the Term of Visa Exemption Measures for Nationals of the Republic of Korea

September 20, 2005

In the afternoon (local time) of September 16 (Fri) at the Japan-ROK foreign ministerial meeting held in New York, Mr. MACHIMURA Nobutaka, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, conveyed to Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea, that the Government of Japan would extend the term of visa exemption which was taken from March 1 to September 30 to coincide with the holding of the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan, until February 28 next year as a temporary measure for nationals of the ROK.
The Government of Japan will therefore continue to permit the entry of nationals of the Republic of Korea to Japan, who wish to enter Japan as temporary visitor for a period of 90 days or less, on and after October 1 until February 28 next year, without obtaining visas. This measure, however, will not be applied to those who will work or intend to work in Japan.
With this measure, it is hoped that human exchanges will continue to increase between Japan and the ROK, and the relationship between the two countries will become closer even after the end of the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi.

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