diff --git a/pkg/bindinfo/binding_plan_generation.go b/pkg/bindinfo/binding_plan_generation.go
index 2245b24dbe596..22432758fe72b 100644
--- a/pkg/bindinfo/binding_plan_generation.go
+++ b/pkg/bindinfo/binding_plan_generation.go
@@ -346,6 +346,8 @@ func genPlanUnderState(sctx sessionctx.Context, stmt ast.StmtNode, state *state)
 			sctx.GetSessionVars().SetAllowPreferRangeScan(state.varValues[i].(bool))
 		case vardef.TiDBOptEnableNoDecorrelateInSelect:
 			sctx.GetSessionVars().EnableNoDecorrelateInSelect = state.varValues[i].(bool)
+		case vardef.TiDBOptEnableSemiJoinRewrite:
+			sctx.GetSessionVars().EnableSemiJoinRewrite = state.varValues[i].(bool)
 		case vardef.TiDBOptSelectivityFactor:
 			sctx.GetSessionVars().SelectivityFactor = state.varValues[i].(float64)
 		default:
@@ -424,7 +426,7 @@ func adjustVar(varName string, varVal any) (newVarVal any, err error) {
 		}
 		// increase 0.1 each step
 		return v + 0.1, nil
-	case vardef.TiDBOptPreferRangeScan, vardef.TiDBOptEnableNoDecorrelateInSelect, vardef.TiDBOptAlwaysKeepJoinKey: // flip the switch
+	case vardef.TiDBOptPreferRangeScan, vardef.TiDBOptEnableNoDecorrelateInSelect, vardef.TiDBOptAlwaysKeepJoinKey, vardef.TiDBOptEnableSemiJoinRewrite: // flip the switch
 		return !varVal.(bool), nil
 	}
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("unsupported variable %s in plan generation", varName)
@@ -505,6 +507,8 @@ func getStartState(vars []string, fixes []uint64) (*state, error) {
 			s.varValues = append(s.varValues, vardef.DefOptPreferRangeScan)
 		case vardef.TiDBOptEnableNoDecorrelateInSelect:
 			s.varValues = append(s.varValues, vardef.DefOptEnableNoDecorrelateInSelect)
+		case vardef.TiDBOptEnableSemiJoinRewrite:
+			s.varValues = append(s.varValues, vardef.DefOptEnableSemiJoinRewrite)
 		case vardef.TiDBOptAlwaysKeepJoinKey:
 			s.varValues = append(s.varValues, vardef.DefOptAlwaysKeepJoinKey)
 		case vardef.TiDBOptSelectivityFactor:
diff --git a/pkg/bindinfo/binding_plan_generation_test.go b/pkg/bindinfo/binding_plan_generation_test.go
index 8f939d4777b8f..2f555be9f7049 100644
--- a/pkg/bindinfo/binding_plan_generation_test.go
+++ b/pkg/bindinfo/binding_plan_generation_test.go
@@ -104,11 +104,12 @@ func TestStartState(t *testing.T) {
 		vardef.TiDBOptSelectivityFactor,
 		vardef.TiDBOptPreferRangeScan,
 		vardef.TiDBOptEnableNoDecorrelateInSelect,
+		vardef.TiDBOptEnableSemiJoinRewrite,
 		vardef.TiDBOptCartesianJoinOrderThreshold,
 	}
 	fixes := []uint64{fixcontrol.Fix44855, fixcontrol.Fix45132, fixcontrol.Fix52869}
 
 	state, err := getStartState(vars, fixes)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Equal(t, state.Encode(), "1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,0.0100,0.0000,0.0000,0.0000,0.8000,true,false,0.0000,OFF,1000,OFF")
+	require.Equal(t, state.Encode(), "1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,1.0000,0.0100,0.0000,0.0000,0.0000,0.8000,true,false,false,0.0000,OFF,1000,OFF")
 }
diff --git a/pkg/planner/core/expression_rewriter.go b/pkg/planner/core/expression_rewriter.go
index 1dcafdf537e76..8e85bca687a4c 100644
--- a/pkg/planner/core/expression_rewriter.go
+++ b/pkg/planner/core/expression_rewriter.go
@@ -1282,6 +1282,8 @@ func isNoDecorrelate(planCtx *exprRewriterPlanCtx, corCols []*expression.Correla
 		semiJoinRewrite := hintFlags&hint.HintFlagSemiJoinRewrite > 0
 		// We can't override noDecorrelate via the variable for EXISTS subqueries with semi join rewrite
 		// as this will cause a conflict that will result in both being disabled in later code
+		// SemiJoinRewrite does not check the variable TiDBOptEnableSemiJoinRewrite.
+		// If that variable is enabled - we can still choose NOT to decorrelate here.
 		if !(semiJoinRewrite && sCtx == handlingExistsSubquery) {
 			// Only support scalar and exists subqueries
 			validSubqType := sCtx == handlingScalarSubquery || sCtx == handlingExistsSubquery
diff --git a/pkg/planner/core/logical_plan_builder.go b/pkg/planner/core/logical_plan_builder.go
index 0c056376c67ea..64cd93e3f7a34 100644
--- a/pkg/planner/core/logical_plan_builder.go
+++ b/pkg/planner/core/logical_plan_builder.go
@@ -5274,7 +5274,9 @@ func (b *PlanBuilder) buildSemiJoin(outerPlan, innerPlan base.LogicalPlan, onCon
 	}
 	// Apply forces to choose hash join currently, so don't worry the hints will take effect if the semi join is in one apply.
 	joinPlan.SetPreferredJoinTypeAndOrder(b.TableHints())
-	if forceRewrite {
+	// Make the session variable behave like the hint by setting the same prefer bit.
+	b.ctx.GetSessionVars().RecordRelevantOptVar(vardef.TiDBOptEnableSemiJoinRewrite)
+	if forceRewrite || b.ctx.GetSessionVars().EnableSemiJoinRewrite {
 		joinPlan.PreferJoinType |= h.PreferRewriteSemiJoin
 		b.optFlag |= rule.FlagSemiJoinRewrite
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/planner/core/rule_semi_join_rewrite.go b/pkg/planner/core/rule_semi_join_rewrite.go
index d08eaa032b6a9..aa409f11d0421 100644
--- a/pkg/planner/core/rule_semi_join_rewrite.go
+++ b/pkg/planner/core/rule_semi_join_rewrite.go
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ import (
 
 // SemiJoinRewriter rewrites semi join to inner join with aggregation.
 // Note: This rewriter is only used for exists subquery.
-// And it also requires the hint `SEMI_JOIN_REWRITE` to be set.
+// And it also requires the hint `SEMI_JOIN_REWRITE` or variable tidb_opt_enable_sem_join_rewrite
+// to be set.
 // For example:
 //
 //	select * from t where exists (select /*+ SEMI_JOIN_REWRITE() */ * from s where s.a = t.a);
@@ -67,7 +68,11 @@ func (smj *SemiJoinRewriter) recursivePlan(p base.LogicalPlan) (base.LogicalPlan
 	join, ok := p.(*logicalop.LogicalJoin)
 	// If it's not a join, or not a (outer) semi join. We just return it since no optimization is needed.
 	// Actually the check of the preferRewriteSemiJoin is a superset of checking the join type. We remain them for a better understanding.
-	if !ok || !(join.JoinType == base.SemiJoin || join.JoinType == base.LeftOuterSemiJoin) || (join.PreferJoinType&h.PreferRewriteSemiJoin == 0) {
+	if !ok || !(join.JoinType == base.SemiJoin || join.JoinType == base.LeftOuterSemiJoin) {
+		return p, nil
+	}
+	// Gate by hint or session variable.
+	if (join.PreferJoinType&h.PreferRewriteSemiJoin) == 0 && !p.SCtx().GetSessionVars().EnableSemiJoinRewrite {
 		return p, nil
 	}
 	// The preferRewriteSemiJoin flag only be used here. We should reset it in order to not affect other parts.
diff --git a/pkg/sessionctx/vardef/tidb_vars.go b/pkg/sessionctx/vardef/tidb_vars.go
index 4d92bd9a704a6..784d6abbcd881 100644
--- a/pkg/sessionctx/vardef/tidb_vars.go
+++ b/pkg/sessionctx/vardef/tidb_vars.go
@@ -315,6 +315,10 @@ const (
 	// TiDBOptEnableNoDecorrelateInSelect is used to control whether to enable the NO_DECORRELATE hint for subqueries in the select list.
 	TiDBOptEnableNoDecorrelateInSelect = "tidb_opt_enable_no_decorrelate_in_select"
 
+	// TiDBEnableSemiJoinRewrite controls automatic rewrite of semi-join to
+	// inner-join with aggregation (equivalent to SEMI_JOIN_REWRITE() hint).
+	TiDBOptEnableSemiJoinRewrite = "tidb_opt_enable_semi_join_rewrite"
+
 	// TiDBOptEnableCorrelationAdjustment is used to indicates if enable correlation adjustment.
 	TiDBOptEnableCorrelationAdjustment = "tidb_opt_enable_correlation_adjustment"
 
@@ -1402,6 +1406,7 @@ const (
 	DefOptInSubqToJoinAndAgg                = true
 	DefOptPreferRangeScan                   = true
 	DefOptEnableNoDecorrelateInSelect       = false
+	DefOptEnableSemiJoinRewrite             = false
 	DefBatchInsert                          = false
 	DefBatchDelete                          = false
 	DefBatchCommit                          = false
diff --git a/pkg/sessionctx/variable/session.go b/pkg/sessionctx/variable/session.go
index f9fc21a0166f2..61c0912928def 100644
--- a/pkg/sessionctx/variable/session.go
+++ b/pkg/sessionctx/variable/session.go
@@ -1151,6 +1151,9 @@ type SessionVars struct {
 	// EnableNoDecorrelateInSelect enables the NO_DECORRELATE hint for subqueries in the select list.
 	EnableNoDecorrelateInSelect bool
 
+	// EnableSemiJoinRewrite enables the SEMI_JOIN_REWRITE hint for subqueries in the where clause.
+	EnableSemiJoinRewrite bool
+
 	// AllowProjectionPushDown enables pushdown projection on TiKV.
 	AllowProjectionPushDown bool
 
@@ -2220,6 +2223,7 @@ func NewSessionVars(hctx HookContext) *SessionVars {
 		CartesianJoinOrderThreshold:   vardef.DefOptCartesianJoinOrderThreshold,
 		EnableOuterJoinReorder:        vardef.DefTiDBEnableOuterJoinReorder,
 		EnableNoDecorrelateInSelect:   vardef.DefOptEnableNoDecorrelateInSelect,
+		EnableSemiJoinRewrite:         vardef.DefOptEnableSemiJoinRewrite,
 		RetryLimit:                    vardef.DefTiDBRetryLimit,
 		DisableTxnAutoRetry:           vardef.DefTiDBDisableTxnAutoRetry,
 		DDLReorgPriority:              kv.PriorityLow,
diff --git a/pkg/sessionctx/variable/sysvar.go b/pkg/sessionctx/variable/sysvar.go
index c27f9133517ab..01dfba71baa7d 100644
--- a/pkg/sessionctx/variable/sysvar.go
+++ b/pkg/sessionctx/variable/sysvar.go
@@ -297,6 +297,10 @@ var defaultSysVars = []*SysVar{
 		s.OptimizerEnableNAAJ = TiDBOptOn(val)
 		return nil
 	}},
+	{Scope: vardef.ScopeGlobal | vardef.ScopeSession, Name: vardef.TiDBOptEnableSemiJoinRewrite, Value: BoolToOnOff(vardef.DefOptEnableSemiJoinRewrite), Type: vardef.TypeBool, SetSession: func(s *SessionVars, val string) error {
+		s.EnableSemiJoinRewrite = TiDBOptOn(val)
+		return nil
+	}},
 	{Scope: vardef.ScopeSession, Name: vardef.TiDBDDLReorgPriority, Value: "PRIORITY_LOW", Type: vardef.TypeEnum, skipInit: true, PossibleValues: []string{"PRIORITY_LOW", "PRIORITY_NORMAL", "PRIORITY_HIGH"}, SetSession: func(s *SessionVars, val string) error {
 		s.setDDLReorgPriority(val)
 		return nil