South Korea plans to resume issuing short-term visas for travellers from the mainland on Saturday after China improved its Covid-19 situation.

Kim Sung-ho, South Korea's vice interior minister in charge of disaster and safety management, said the government had decided to restart the visa issuance after the number of infections among Chinese arrivals dropped significantly, and new strains of the virus have not emerged.

South Korea's prime minister, Han Duck-soo, last week hinted at lifting restrictions before the end of February if China's Covid situation became "manageable."

South Korea suspended issuing short-term visas to Chinese visitors last month after China ended its zero-Covid policy. (Reuters)