With a South Korean passport alone, travelers can visit as many as 190 countries around the world without a visa. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 23 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean passport holders can now travel to 190 countries without a visa, ranking the nation’s passport among the most powerful in the world, according to a new report released Monday.
The Henley Passport Index, compiled quarterly by the London-based global citizenship advisory firm Henley & Partners, placed South Korea in joint second place alongside Japan, based on the number of destinations accessible without a prior visa.
Singapore topped the list, offering visa-free access to 193 out of 277 countries and territories worldwide. South Korea has consistently maintained a top-tier position since reaching third place in January 2020.
A group of European countries—including Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Spain—tied for third, while the United States, once the global leader in 2014, has dropped to 10th place, sharing the rank with Lithuania and others. It ranked ninth in the previous quarter.
At the bottom of the index, Afghanistan ranked last at 99th, with just 25 countries granting visa-free entry. Syria (27 countries) and Iraq (30 countries) also remained near the bottom. North Korea ranked 93rd, offering access to 40 destinations without a visa.
The Henley Passport Index is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and reflects the number of destinations passport holders from 199 countries can enter either visa-free or with a visa on arrival.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)