Korea’s passport power ranks 2nd in the world [횡설수설/이정은]

“Are you from Korea? I’ve heard BTS songs before.” These days, immigration officials at major airports in major US cities often give these comments to visitors presenting their Korean passports. Some say they have eaten bulgogi or watched the ‘squid game’. Considering that immigration officers are notorious for being strict, this is a welcome welcome. Unlike other foreigners who are judged as if they are being interrogated for the purpose of entry, accommodation, and length of stay, some say that they feel embarrassed while passing the screening. This is the moment when Korea’s ‘passport power’ is at its peak.

▷ Korea’s passport index climbed to the top this year as well. In the passport index published by Henry & Partners, a company specializing in international exchange, Korea ranked second along with Germany. It is followed by Japan and Singapore in first place. There are currently 126 countries in Korea where you can freely go to and from Korea without a visa or with a simple procedure. Official passports reach 149 countries. Most of the top 20 countries are from Europe and North America.

▷Henry Passport Index is calculated based on the data of each country of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The more countries that have visa-free countries and visa waiver agreements, the higher the score. The fact that there are many other countries that have signed visa waiver agreements is a national strength. In the case of developed countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is pointing out that the negotiation partner’s economic power and status as well as their citizenship are verified. Underdeveloped countries with a large number of illegal immigrants, and countries or regions where terrorists are active, do not even dare to negotiate a visa waiver. North Korea is ranked 104th, and only 39 countries can enter freely.

▷ Korea’s passport power is more prominent in the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) phase. Countries that have been restricted from entering the country due to the failure to contain COVID-19 have experienced a drop in passport index since 2020. This is because the visa on arrival issued upon arrival in the destination country cannot be obtained. The polarization of freedom of movement has become so severe that the phrase ‘apartheid of travel’ has emerged. Even the developed countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, ranked sixth for this reason. On the other hand, South Korea, where the entire nation participated in high-intensity quarantine, did not fall in the rankings.

▷ A thin notebook the size of a palm contains more than just passport numbers and personal information. It contains the invisible status and power of the country, and the evaluation of the international community as a whole. The ‘2nd place in the passport index’ is a report card showing the economic and diplomatic achievements that Korea has achieved. It is clear that the image of the country, which has boosted the popularity of K-contents worldwide, also played a part. Korea is now being welcomed on the global stage and becoming a country that freely passes through immigration control overseas.

Lee Jeong-eun Editorial member lightee@donga.com

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