The street in Myeongdong, Seoul, on September 7th, when the Lee Jae-myung administration announced a temporary visa exemption for Chinese nationals in conjunction with various ministries. Yonhap News

On August 6th, the visa-free entry policy for Chinese group tourists was announced at a "Tourism Revitalization Mini Policy Task Force" meeting chaired by the Prime Minister of the Lee Jae-myung administration. The reason cited was that the tourism industry contributes to revitalizing the livelihoods and domestic economy. 

However, since its initial implementation, the policy has faced numerous issues and concerns.

First, the possibility of illegal stay and unauthorized departure.

Over the past three years, 1,352 Chinese tourists have absconded, averaging about 400 per year. In fact, on September 29th, the first day of the policy's implementation, six Chinese nationals who disembarked from a cruise ship arriving at Incheon Port from Tianjin, China, absconded. Currently, one of them remains missing. Unauthorized departure leads to illegal stay and raises concerns about the occurrence of crimes, making it a matter that cannot be taken lightly. 

Second, concerns about public safety and crime. 

The public is worried about the connection between these Chinese nationals and violent crimes. Cases of murder, drug trafficking, and kidnapping committed by Chinese nationals serve as evidence that these concerns are not unfounded.

Third, concerns related to national security.

With the local government elections approaching on June 3rd next year, voices are warning of the possibility of election fraud linked to these Chinese nationals. Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Freedom and Innovation Party, also posted on social media (Facebook) stating, "Visa-free entry for Chinese nationals began on September 29th, and right before that, the national computer network was paralyzed. Isn't that strange?" and "There's a suspicious plan to rig the elections by mobilizing a large number of Chinese nationals ahead of next year's local elections."

The visa-free entry for Chinese nationals is engulfing South Korea. Jeju Island has already become Chinese territory, and Chinese is rampant on the streets of Nampo-dong in Busan. At night, Chinese people drink, fight, vomit, and cause disturbances on the streets. Busan residents are afraid to go to Nampo-dong. In the outskirts of Gangwon and Gyeonggi provinces, Chinese enclaves have emerged where even the police cannot enter. Chinese ghettos are forming on Korean soil. 

Yet, Lee Jae-myung is expanding visa-free policies, claiming it will boost the economy. The logic is that they need tourism revenue from China. This is insane. Can human lives be exchanged for tourism revenue from China? Can the drug addiction of our youth be bartered for Chinese tourism? This is not economic logic but an act of treason. Moreover, while tourist numbers have recently increased, the per capita spending has decreased, proving that the "Yōukè effect" touted by the government is an illusion. 

Chinese visa-free entry brings three things.

First, drugs. Fentanyl and methamphetamine are flooding in through Chinese channels. Korean youth are becoming addicted to drugs. Teenagers are using drugs in Gangnam clubs, and drugs are being traded in front of schools. Chinese drug cartels are taking over Korea. 

Second, spies. Military secrets are being leaked, and technology is being stolen. China is sending spies disguised as tourists. Agents who undermine the South Korea-US alliance and shake South Korea's security are freely entering visa-free. 

Third, they are stealing jobs. Local restaurants are already full of Chinese people. Even more companies are reluctant to hire Koreans. Chinese people are taking away the jobs of our citizens.

Lee Jae-myung's logic is simple: tourism revenue from China will save our economy. This is a blatant lie. Is the argument that domestic consumption will falter without Chinese tourists not an admission that our economy is in crisis? Are they trying to make us a country that cannot survive without Chinese money? 

The role and responsibility of the president is to create an economic environment where people can live well and prosper without Chinese tourists. However, Lee Jae-myung is going in the opposite direction. He is increasing dependence on China and making us reliant on Chinese financial sources. What will happen if one million, or ten million, Chinese people enter the country?

"If we impose a travel ban on Korea and shake their economy, they will yield." This is China's strategy. Hong Kong collapsed like that. They create economic dependence and then gain political control. Lee Jae-myung is currently turning South Korea into a second Hong Kong.

US President Donald Trump is promoting the SAVE Act (Securing America's Voters' Eligibility Act) to prevent illegal immigrants from voting. This is to block non-citizens from voting. Elon Musk revealed that millions of illegal immigrants received Social Security numbers and voted during the Joe Biden administration. 

The United States is currently closing its borders and preventing illegal immigration. This is to protect its citizens. However, Lee Jae-myung is expanding the visa-free policy for Chinese nationals in the opposite direction. He seems determined to create a voting bloc for Chinese citizens and is pushing it forward. Under the guise of boosting the economy, he is handing over the lives, security, and jobs of the nation to China. 

The visa-free policy for Chinese nationals must be abolished immediately. Visas must be revived to verify identities and screen out criminal records. Drug cartels and spies must be blocked. The lives, security, and jobs of our citizens are more important than tourism revenue from China. This is common sense. 

However, common sense does not apply to Lee Jae-myung. He stands with China. He expressed his intention to attend the Victory Day parade, called for the removal of THAAD, and appointed Jeong Cheong-rae, who campaigned in Chinese, as party leader. The Lee Jae-myung administration is a pro-China, treasonous regime. Chinese visa-free entry is its symbol. 

Lee Jae-myung is creating a country where the people of South Korea are treated worse than Chinese nationals. Our children are becoming addicted to Chinese drugs, our youth are losing jobs to Chinese people, and our military secrets are being leaked to China. If Lee Jae-myung is not removed, South Korea will become a vassal state of China. 

We must create a country where our citizens in South Korea are treated better than Chinese nationals. Lee Jae-myung must be overthrown. We are not second-class citizens.

Editorial Department, Hankook-Mihab