"Want to Travel Abroad Freely After Vaccination" Growing Expectations for Vaccine Passports

Discussion on Introducing 'Vaccine Passport' via Electronic Vaccination Certificates by EU and Others
Development of Vaccination Certification System Underway Domestically
Self-Quarantine Exemption for Fully Vaccinated Individuals
"Overseas Travel Likely This Summer," Growing Public Expectations
Travel Industry: "Issues Still Remain to Be Resolved"

Passenger aircraft on the apron of Incheon International Airport Terminal 2. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Interest is growing in the 'vaccine passport' given to those who have completed COVID-19 vaccination. Once issued a vaccine passport, domestic and international travel is allowed without a 2-week self-quarantine period. Citizens are expressing expectations that free overseas travel will be possible starting this summer through the vaccine passport. The travel industry anticipates that the vaccine passport will help the recovery of the tourism sector but also points out that there are still issues to be resolved.

The vaccine passport is being discussed mainly in some overseas countries such as Europe. Earlier, on the 15th of last month (local time), the European Union (EU) Commission, representing 27 European countries, announced the introduction of the 'Digital Green Certificate' together with the European Parliament.

The Digital Green Certificate is the EU's vaccine passport and is expected to be issued to citizens who have completed vaccination. Maros Sefcovic, Vice President of the EU Commission, emphasized at a recent press conference following a meeting of ministers responsible for European affairs, "We will complete (the certificate introduction) before summer," adding, "The certificate is a priority for our citizens."

Domestically, efforts are also accelerating to develop a vaccine vaccination certificate. Earlier, on the 27th of last month, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency unveiled the 'COVID-19 Vaccination Certification System' developed with technical advice from the startup 'Blockchain Labs.' This system allows vaccination status to be verified anytime and anywhere through an application (app).

The electronic vaccination certificate can be considered a preliminary step toward developing the vaccine passport. This is because the vaccine passport is a system that exempts a 2-week self-quarantine for those certified as vaccinated when entering or leaving other countries. Therefore, developing a digital certificate that can electronically check vaccination status at airports is essential.

On the morning of the 27th of last month, medical staff at the Gwangju Buk-gu COVID-19 Vaccination Center administered vaccines to the general public aged 75 and older. / Photo by Yonhap News

As countries around the world, including Europe and Korea, are making efforts to develop vaccine passports, some expect that overseas travel will be possible this summer through the vaccine passport. It is also reported that some citizens are looking into ways to receive leftover 'no-show' vaccines, which are doses unused due to scheduled recipients not showing up on time.

Last month, many questions such as "Can I travel abroad if I get vaccinated?" were posted on an overseas travel-related internet cafe. One netizen said, "I heard on the news that the government will exempt self-quarantine if the second dose of the vaccine is completed," adding, "Doesn't that mean we can freely travel abroad this summer just by getting vaccinated? I'm interested."

The 'COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate' being developed domestically is a system that allows easy proof of vaccination status through an application (app). / Photo by Yonhap News

Another netizen said, "I recently succeeded in reserving a no-show vaccine. Now I can also get a vaccination certificate," expressing hope, "I hope the vaccine passport is issued quickly so I can go abroad."

A company employee in their 20s, Mr. A, said, "The biggest obstacle to overseas travel is the 2-week self-quarantine, and if that is lifted, I think the tourism industry will be revitalized," adding, "If the vaccine passport is issued only to those vaccinated, I believe the public's willingness to get vaccinated will be much higher than now."

The public showed a positive response to overseas travel through the introduction of the vaccine passport. They also expect the vaccine passport to greatly help economic recovery.

According to a public perception survey on 'Korea's vaccine supply and vaccine passport introduction' conducted by 'Mono Research' on behalf of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) from the 23rd to the 26th of last month, 6 out of 10 respondents (60.4%) said that overseas travel is what they most want to do if the vaccine passport is introduced. Additionally, 67.4% responded that "the introduction of the vaccine passport will greatly help economic revitalization."

COVID-19 Prevention Notice Inside the Airport / Photo by Yonhap News

The travel industry cautiously predicts the possibility of tourism activation through the vaccine passport but emphasizes that there are still issues to be resolved.

A representative from the travel agency 'Hana Tour' explained, "Inquiries about overseas travel and tours have increased compared to the previous year due to expectations for the vaccine passport," but added, "So far, no clear upward trend has been detected."

They continued, "The government's decision to exempt the 2-week self-quarantine period for those who have completed the second dose of vaccination is positive for the travel industry," but pointed out, "For the vaccine passport to be properly used, an agreement must be reached not only domestically but also abroad to exempt self-quarantine."

Currently, other countries also impose a 7 to 10-day self-quarantine obligation on entrants, similar to Korea. If the vaccine passport is not recognized both domestically and at the destination, it will effectively have no effect.

Regarding this, the official said, "The government must negotiate with travel destination countries to ensure that our vaccine passport is recognized and effective for the system to work," adding, "Although the number of countries reaching such agreements is gradually increasing, it is still only a few."

They further explained, "Ultimately, whether free overseas travel is possible depends on the details of resolving the self-quarantine exemption issue. It is expected that proposals will be possible once the domestic vaccination rate increases significantly and there are enough countries agreeing to self-quarantine exemptions."