SEOUL — South Korea and Japan will introduce a one-month pilot program in early June to test fast-track immigration lanes for each other’s nationals at select airports, officials in Seoul announced Friday.
The initiative, timed to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, aims to enhance travel convenience and promote stronger bilateral ties. The program will be rolled out at Fukuoka Airport and Tokyo’s Haneda Airport in Japan, and at Seoul’s Gimpo International Airport and Busan’s Gimhae International Airport in South Korea, according to a report by Japan’s Nikkei newspaper.
During the pilot, South Korea will establish dedicated immigration lanes exclusively for Japanese nationals, while Japan will offer the same for Korean travelers. The lanes will be separate from general entry lines used by other foreign visitors.
Authorities from both countries will evaluate the pilot program’s effectiveness after the trial period, using collected data to determine whether the fast-track system should be expanded permanently.
The effort is part of broader discussions between Seoul and Tokyo to improve border procedures. Among the proposals under consideration is a “pre-clearance” system, allowing passengers to complete both departure and arrival immigration checks at their point of departure. A similar system was briefly implemented during the 2002 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, involving immigration officers stationed at Incheon and Narita airports.
Tourism exchanges between the two nations have surged in recent years. In 2024, South Korea accounted for over 8.82 million of the 36.87 million international visitors to Japan — representing more than 20 percent of the total and marking a 26.7 percent increase from the previous year, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.
Meanwhile, approximately 3.22 million Japanese tourists traveled to South Korea in the same period, a figure approaching pre-pandemic levels, the Korea Tourism Organization reported.
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