For China, the visa policy for South Korean citizens is a crucial element of China-South Korea relations, and its evolution reflects the changes in bilateral ties over time. Particularly after the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries in 2015, the frequency of personnel exchanges increased, leading to multiple adjustments in visa policies. Meanwhile, this period coincided with significant shifts in the international political landscape, fluctuations in China-Korea bilateral relations, and the impact of the global pandemic. Against this backdrop, the adjustments of China’s visa policy for Korean citizens exhibited distinct phased characteristics. This study aims to explore the characteristics of China’s visa policy adjustments for Korean citizens. Based on literature research and case analysis, it systematically examines and analyzes the historical evolution of China’s visa policies from 2016 to 2024, revealing the characteristics of policy adjustments at different stages. The study finds that from 2016 to 2024, China’s visa policy changes toward South Korean citizens demonstrates the following characteristics: First, visa policies exhibit high sensitivity and flexibility in response to changes in China-Korea bilateral relations, with policy adjustments reflecting the dynamic nature of their relationship to a considerable extent. Second, China’s visa policy toward Korean citizens interacts significantly with Korea’s visa policy toward Chinese citizens. These policies influence each other and, to some extent, form a balancing mechanism. Third, major international events at specific historical periods often serve as key variables influencing visa policy adjustments, directly impacting policy formulation and implementation. Fourth, visa policy adjustments reflect China’s strategic trade-offs between opening up to the world and ensuring national security. The policy must promote international exchanges and cooperation while safeguarding national security and public health, demonstrating a balance of multiple objectives in the decision-making process. Finally, China’s visa policy for South Korean citizens has generally evolved progressively, shifting from strict to lenient and from complex to convenient. This trend aligns with the increasing demand for personnel exchanges between the two countries and provides policy support for the long-term stable development of bilateral relations.