South Korea’s Passport Ranking Shows Mixed Results
- Eunyo Hwang
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
Oct 15, 2025
Eunyo Hwang
South Korea’s passport, known as one of the world’s strongest, has recently shown different results depending on how it is evaluated. Some reports say its ranking has dropped sharply, while others still place it near the top of the global list, making it the most powerful.
According to the Nomad Capitalist Passport Index 2025, South Korea’s passport fell to 39th place, dropping 28 spots in six years. This index does not only count how many countries a person can visit without a visa. It also looks at other important factors such as tax systems, individual freedom, and dual citizenship. Because of this, the index suggests that South Korea’s overall passport value has dropped significantly.
However, another renowned and one of the most common ranking, the Henley Passport Index, displays a very different aspect. In 2025, it listed South Korea’s passport in second place, tied with Japan. Holders of a South Korean passport can visit 190 countries without a visa, showing that Korean travelers are still able to enjoy global mobility.
These opposite results come from using different standards; one index focuses on rights and freedom, while the other focuses mainly on travel access.
In conclusion, it is vague to determine whether South Korea’s passport is “strong” or “weaker” since it depends on the different standards. While some rankings say it has fallen, others prove that it remains one of the most powerful passports in the world.
