'Travel Ban from Korea' Now Applies to 59 Countries... Previously 153, Entry Restrictions Gradually Eased

Quarantine Strengthening and Other Eased Measures Expand to 94 Countries... 25 Countries Lift Entry Restrictions

On the 8th, when the special entry procedures for Korean and Japanese businesspeople were implemented, passengers at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 were undergoing departure procedures for the flight to Narita, Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Countries that had blocked entry from South Korea due to the global pandemic of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) are gradually easing their entry bans. At one point, more than 150 countries had imposed entry bans on travelers from South Korea, but this number has decreased to below 60 countries in about five months.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 17th, the number of countries imposing entry bans on travelers from South Korea has dropped to 59, marking the first time it has fallen below 60 since the downward trend began. In early May, the number of countries with entry bans reached 153.

The number of countries implementing eased measures such as 'facility quarantine' and 'strengthened quarantine and recommendations' instead of entry bans is increasing. Countries enforcing facility quarantine include the United States, Paraguay, Tunisia, Namibia, Burundi, Benin, and Comoros, totaling 10 countries. The number of countries with strengthened quarantine and recommendation measures has significantly increased to 94, including India, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Sweden, Spain, Iran, and Kuwait.

The number of countries that have lifted entry restrictions on travelers from South Korea has also increased, mainly in Europe, totaling 25 countries. Following Greece, the Netherlands, and Latvia, Belgium, Slovenia, and Uzbekistan were added to the list of countries lifting entry restrictions in September.

The trend of easing entry restrictions is expected to continue steadily. The government, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is requesting the restoration of exchanges through high-level calls and is actively conducting consultations through working-level diplomatic channels. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official explained, "Although there are differences among countries as the COVID-19 situation changes moment by moment, overall, entry restrictions on South Korea are weakening," adding, "We are maintaining close consultations with host country governments through overseas diplomatic missions."

On the 15th, a video conference titled ‘Inter-Ministerial Meeting to Expand Cooperation with Africa Regarding COVID-19’ was held under the chairmanship of Ko Kyung-seok, Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Africa and Middle East Bureau. The meeting reviewed the status of African-related work by various ministries and agencies amid the COVID-19 situation and explored cooperation measures. Participants from related ministries and agencies expressed difficulties in proceeding with originally planned projects due to COVID-19 and requested cooperation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and overseas diplomatic missions.

The introduction of a fast-track entry system simplifying entry procedures for businesspeople is also being implemented one after another. With about 20,000 businesspeople from 21 countries benefiting from exceptions, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Indonesia, and Singapore introduced the fast-track entry system with South Korea following China in May, and Japan began implementing the same system on the 8th. The government is negotiating to restore economic exchanges, focusing on ASEAN countries with large trade volumes.