South Korea Closes Doors Against 'Omicron'... Travelers Stranded Abroad

Overseas arrivals receiving guidance from quarantine officials at Incheon Airport.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] As the Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreads, governments around the world, including South Korea, have implemented entry restrictions.

On the 27th, an emergency meeting of 13 related ministries, including the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, was held. At this meeting, the KDCA announced that starting from 0:00 on the 28th, all entries from eight African countries?South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi?where Omicron cases have been reported or which are neighboring countries, will be restricted. However, Korean nationals entering from these countries will be quarantined in facilities for 10 days regardless of vaccination status to monitor for infection.

The KDCA stated, "We have designated South Africa and seven other countries as enhanced quarantine countries, high-risk countries, and countries excluded from quarantine exemption," adding, "To prevent the importation of the variant, we will restrict boarding on aircraft, enforce temporary facility quarantine during the entry process, and strengthen PCR testing." They further explained, "If designated as an enhanced quarantine country, visa issuance will be restricted; if designated as a high-risk country, Korean nationals will be quarantined in temporary facilities; and if designated as a country excluded from quarantine exemption, even vaccinated individuals will be quarantined."

According to these measures, Korean nationals arriving from the eight countries must stay in temporary facilities for 10 days regardless of vaccination status. Additionally, possession of a negative PCR test certificate before arrival in Korea must be confirmed, and diagnostic tests must be conducted on day 1, day 5, and before release from quarantine. Currently, visas are only being issued for urgent situations such as attending funerals in these countries.

On the 27th (local time), a passenger is looking at a display board showing flight cancellations at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Earlier, in response to the spread of Omicron, countries worldwide have strengthened quarantine measures and entry restrictions. Israel has completely banned all foreign nationals from entering for two weeks. The United Kingdom announced that all incoming travelers must undergo PCR testing and self-isolate until a negative result is confirmed. Japan has also mandated a 10-day quarantine for entrants from the same eight African countries.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised the travel advisory for the eight African countries?South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi?to the highest level 4, "Very High," on the same day. The U.S. Department of State plans to restrict travel to these eight countries starting from the 29th.

However, the sudden regulatory measures by various countries have caused some travelers to become stranded. AFP reported on the 27th that travelers trying to return to their home countries flocked to Johannesburg International Airport in South Africa. These travelers rushed to secure the last flights before the travel bans took effect, and some had to cut their vacations short and return home urgently.

Concerns have also been raised about these travel restrictions. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) emphasized in a statement on the 26th that such measures are not a long-term solution. IATA stated, "Governments worldwide are responding to the new variant threat with emergency measures," adding, "These actions instill fear among the traveling public," and "Based on two years of experience, a data-driven approach seeking safe alternatives to border closures and quarantines must be adopted."