Cheju to become duty-free tourist island

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The Korean government has approved a plan to turn the southern resort island of Cheju into a visa-free and tariff-free tourist zone, similar in status to Hong Kong or Singapore. The announcement ends a five-month study by the Cheju International Free City task force set up by President Kim Dae-jung in February.

The next phase involves submitting the scheme to a government committee, where opposition parties are expected to oppose certain elements of the plan, such as a proposal to introduce English as the official language of the island. Final approval is expected in September and following that, a detailed development plan will begin in January 2002. Government officials are forming a new body, tentatively known as the Cheju Island Development Corp, to handle publicity, marketing and investment promotion.