Gov't to expand list of countries for no visa entry

The Ministry of Justice will allow no-visa entry for the people of Bosnia, Herzegovina and Albania ahead of ``Visit Korea Year 2001,¡¯¡¯the 2002 World Cup and 2002 Pusan Asian Games, a spokesman said Thursday.

The ministry also decided to extend the period for the visa waiver system to two years for Japanese tourists by the end of 2002, he added.

The spokesman said the no-visa system for the three European countries is designed to further promote trade with them, which is on the sharp rise.

The measure for the Japanese is also aimed at strengthening the cooperative atmosphere between Seoul and Tokyo ahead of their co-hosting of the World Cup and attracting more Japanese tourists, he said.

Japan does not allow unlimited no-visa entry for Koreans, so Korea extended the period for the visa waiver system by one year based on the principle of reciprocity.

With the expanded no-visa system, the number of countries to which Korea does not offer no-visa entry reduced to 28.

Shin Suk-Ho kyle@donga.com