Travel Ban on Myanmar's 'Golden Triangle' Where 19 Koreans Were Detained... Level 4 Travel Alert Issued

Clashes Intensify and Crime Rises in Northern and Eastern Shan State and Kayah State, Myanmar
Due to Various Reasons

The government recently designated the Myanmar Golden Triangle region, where 19 Koreans were illegally detained by an unauthorized company and later released, as a travel-restricted area.

On the 24th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that, following the deliberation and resolution of the Passport Policy Council's Passport Usage Policy Subcommittee, a Level 4 travel alert, corresponding to a 'travel ban,' will be issued from 0:00 AM on the 25th Korea Standard Time (10:00 PM on the 24th Myanmar time) for northern Shan State, eastern Shan State, and Kayah State in Myanmar. 'Travel ban' is the highest level in the travel alert system.

Regarding this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that northern Shan State and Kayah State are experiencing intensified clashes between the military junta and ethnic armed groups, and that eastern Shan State has seen an increase in crimes such as employment fraud and drug-related offenses, making it necessary to prohibit visits and stays to protect Korean nationals.

Myanmar Travel Alert Adjustment Status [Image Source: Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yonhap News]

In particular, eastern Shan State corresponds to the Myanmar side of the Golden Triangle, where 19 Koreans were recently detained by an illegal local company and later released through Myanmar police intervention. The Golden Triangle refers to the mountainous border area where Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand meet. Recently, companies engaging in illegal activities such as online scams, voice phishing, and human trafficking have been rampant in this area.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised, "Since the security situation is unstable even in areas of Myanmar other than the newly designated travel-restricted regions, please refrain from visiting or staying there." Additionally, the Golden Triangle region on the Laos side has seen ongoing employment fraud targeting Koreans, leading to an upgrade from a Special Travel Advisory (Level 2.5) to a Level 3 travel alert.

The travel alert system operated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consists of Level 1: Caution, Level 2: Refrain from Travel, Level 3: Departure Recommendation, and Level 4: Travel Ban. Separately, a Level 2.5 Special Travel Advisory is issued for urgent short-term risks. In such cases, unless travel is for urgent reasons, trips should be canceled or postponed, and those staying in the area must pay special attention to personal safety.

When a Level 4 alert is issued, residents must immediately evacuate and withdraw. Korean nationals wishing to stay in Level 4 alert areas must obtain separate exceptional passport usage permission from the government. Staying or visiting without permission may result in punishment for violating the Passport Act.

Furthermore, the government has lifted travel alerts for 57 countries where political and security conditions are favorable, among those for which travel alerts were issued during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The countries include Namibia, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Taiwan, Germany, Latvia, Romania (excluding Level 2 designated areas), Luxembourg, Monaco, Mauritius, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Brunei, Serbia, Seychelles, Sweden, Slovakia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Ireland, Andorra, Estonia, Oman, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Canada, Croatia, Palau, Portugal, Finland, Hawaii, Hungary, Australia, and others.