South Korea Drops Quarantine For Fully Vaxxed International Travelers
South Korea to lift quarantine mandate
The South Korean Health Ministry made the announcement on Friday. As reported by Xinhua, it was stated that the country is planning to drop quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated international travelers from March 21, 2022.
Currently, international travelers entering South Korea must undergo a seven-day self-quarantine. However, with the latest announcement, fully vaccinated travelers will no longer be required to quarantine from March 21. However, there are some exceptions, with Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Pakistan and Myanmar excluded from the self-quarantine exemption.
South Korea classes fully vaccinated travelers as those who have received two doses of the COVID—19 vaccine two weeks earlier, or less than 180 days ago.
While the self-isolation requirement will be dropped, international travelers will still need to undergo two rapid antigen tests. One is to be taken on arrival in South Korea, while the second should be undergone six or seven days after arriving in South Korea.
What is the current COVID-19 situation?
Reportedly, on Saturday, the day after the Health Ministry made the announcement, South Korea reached a new daily record of 383,665 cases. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency shared this information amid a surge in Omicron cases.
Meanwhile, other southeast Asian nations like Cambodia and Thailand reopened their borders to travelers in November. However, in December, soon after the emergence of the Omicron variant, things changed. In fact, Thailand suspended most traveler arrivals. Despite this, from February, tourism returned under Thailand’s “Test & Go” program.
Soon after this, Bali joined other Asian countries in reopening to international travelers. Meanwhile, on February 10, the Philippines also reopened with no mandatory quarantine. Vietnam also announced that it was reopening on March 15. Meanwhile, Malaysia announced on Tuesday that it plans to reopen its borders on April 1 to international travelers.
What does South Korea have to offer?
South Korea lies on the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, sharing one of the world’s most heavily militarized borders with North Korea. The country is popular for hiking its beautiful green and hilly countryside, dotted with centuries-old Buddhist temples.
The country also offers quaint coastal traditional fishing villages and idyllic sub-tropical islands. In sharp contrast, the country also features high-tech cities, including the capital, Seoul.
Delicious, healthy cuisine
The cuisine of South Korea is authentic and prepared with healthful ingredients and bold flavors. Meanwhile, the dishes are popular with Americans and other international travelers. Among the popular dishes are Samgyeopsal (pork strips) and Bulgogi, a marinated beef barbecue. Other taste treats include Japchae (stir-fried noodles) and Kimchi (fermented vegetables).
For those with a sweet tooth, Hoeddeok, a sweet, syrupy pancake, is popular. Meanwhile, Ddulbokki – a type of spicy rice cake – is also popular with locals and travelers alike.
For those travelers who are fully vaccinated, South Korea is a welcoming and friendly nation to visit this year.
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below, on our Facebook Page, Follow Our Twitter Account or Head Over To Our Pinterest Page!