Name game: Taiwan now using 'South Korea' in official documents after arrival card dispute
2026.03.18 21:52
Taiwan has relabeled Korea as “South Korea” in official documents in protest of the country listing Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” on its electronic arrival card system.
Taipei also warned of further measures if Seoul fails to revise the wording.
According to Taiwanese media outlets, including the Central News Agency and Liberty Times, on Wednesday, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the change was made on Taiwan’s Alien Resident Certificate starting March 1, based on “the principle of reciprocity.”
The ministry added that if the Korean government does not provide a satisfactory response by March 31, it will take corresponding measures regarding the designation of Korea on Taiwan’s electronic arrival registration system.
The controversy arose after Korea introduced its e-Arrival Card system, a digital entry declaration form for foreign travelers entering Korea, in February last year. Unlike paper forms, the system requires users to select from a preset list of countries, in which Taiwan is listed as “China (Taiwan).”
Taiwan has objected to the listing of the island as “China (Taiwan)” under the departure and destination selection options. While nationality is listed as “Taiwan” on passports, the country list displays it as “China (Taiwan),” which Taipei argues is inappropriate. Taiwan’s foreign ministry and its representative office in Seoul have repeatedly requested corrections through official channels.
“[The ministry] said that Taiwan and South Korea have long maintained close and cordial exchanges in trade, culture, tourism and personnel exchanges, and that Taipei deeply values this hard-won friendship,” the Taiwan News reported on Wednesday. “However, the labeling issue has drawn concern from the public and lawmakers.”
Taiwan previously lodged a public protest over the same issue in December last year. At the time, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te directly raised the issue, calling on Korea to “respect the will of the Taiwanese people.” Senior foreign ministry officials also noted that “unfriendly measures are undesirable” given Korea’s large trade surplus with Taiwan.
The Korean government has maintained its position. A Foreign Ministry official said it is “reviewing the matter while taking various factors into account” and will continue to manage the issue under its existing stance, suggesting no immediate plan to change the current wording.
Taiwan has stressed that it is not subordinate to China and that such designation could cause inconvenience and emotional distress to its citizens.
Internationally, many countries — including the United States, European nations and Japan — list “Taiwan” separately on immigration forms and visas.
Due to China’s “One China” principle, Taiwan has faced restrictions in how it is designated in international settings. A notable example is its inability to use its national flag at events such as the Olympics.
Responding to related questions, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said the One China principle is a “basic norm of international relations and a widely accepted consensus in the international community.”
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
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