SEOUL/BEIJING, Sept 29 (Reuters) - South Korea began

offering visa-free entry for Chinese tourist groups on Monday, a

measure it hopes will boost the economy and help improve ties

with its Asian neighbour.

As part of the pilot programme due to run through until next

June, groups of three or more tourists from mainland China will

be able to stay without a visa for 15 days.

The action comes ahead of China's National Day holidays from

October 1-8, as well as a run of South Korean holidays around

the same time.

South Korean companies are seeking to benefit from the

increased demand. Shilla Duty Free has organised a Chinese

cruise tour and food delivery app Baedal Minjok is introducing

payment options in Alipay and WeChat Pay.

The programme, announced in March, follows China's decision

last November to offer visa exemptions to South Koreans for up

to 30 days.

The last time South Korea offered mainland Chinese similar

visa-free entry was from December 2017 to March 2018, coinciding

with the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

The new administration of South Korean President Lee Jae

Myung is hoping to further improve ties with China during an

expected visit by President Xi Jinping in late October to an

Asia-Pacific summit in South Korea.