South Korea: Authorities lift seven-day quarantine requirement for COVID-19 cases effective June 1 /update 105

Event

Officials in South Korea are maintaining minimal domestic and international restrictions as of May 11.

Domestic Restrictions
Authorities will lift a seven-day quarantine requirement for COVID-19 cases effective June 1. Individuals that test positive for COVID-19 are advised to self-isolate for five days. Additionally, authorities will end the recommendation for inbound travelers to take PCR tests within three days of arriving in South Korea from June 1. Facemasks will also no longer be mandatory in all medical facilities and pharmacies but remain compulsory in hospitals with patient wards.

International Travel Restrictions
Visa-free and visa-waiver programs have resumed, with some exceptions. Passport holders from eligible countries must obtain an electronic travel authorization (K-ETA) at least 72 hours before entry; to access the form, click here. Officials have lifted (K-ETA) requirements for 22 visa-free locations including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Macau, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, UK, and US; passport holders from other visa-free countries not included in the list must continue to apply for K-ETA.

Authorities encourage all incoming travelers to register their travel information on the Q-Code platform before departure for South Korea. To access the platform, click here.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying travel if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays.

Resources

Korea Tourism Organization
Quarantine COVID19 Defence (Q-Code) system