Korean and Japanese officials discussed the mutual exemption of visas for their respective populations during the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals at their fourth working-level meeting Friday.
Korea proposed the introduction of mutual visa exemptions on a permanent basis to coincide with the soccer festival, but Japan said phased-in steps are desirable given the increase of illegal Korean aliens in Japan.
The co-hosts of the international event also discussed how to facilitate the passage of FIFA officials and foreign spectators between the two nations.