"Travel to Korea, Increased Caution"… US State Department & CDC Simultaneously Raise Travel Alerts for Korea and Japan (Comprehensive)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "This is not a travel ban"... "No impact on our citizens' entry to the US"
Travel advisory for Japan also raised to Level 2 nationwide

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 22nd (local time), the U.S. Department of State raised the travel advisory level for South Korea and Japan, where COVID-19 cases are increasing, to Level 2, meaning "Exercise Increased Caution." Previously, the U.S. Department of State had maintained South Korea's travel advisory at Level 1, which means "Practice Usual Precautions."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also elevated the Travel Health Notice level for South Korea and Japan to the Alert level. Level 2 Alert means "Practice Enhanced Precautions." The U.S. Department of State explained that the reason for this upgrade in travel advisory levels is due to reports of community spread of COVID-19.

In response, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official stated, "This is not a ban on travel to South Korea and Japan, and it has no impact on our citizens entering the United States," adding, "The adjustment of the travel advisory by the U.S. Department of State and the travel notice by the U.S. CDC are measures taken by the U.S. government to require its citizens to exercise greater caution when traveling to South Korea and Japan."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The U.S. Department of State's travel advisories are divided into levels: Level 1 means "Practice Usual Precautions," Level 2 means "Exercise Increased Caution," Level 3 means "Reconsider Travel," and Level 4 means "Do Not Travel." Hong Kong was designated as a Level 2 country on the 20th, and Macau on the 11th. Meanwhile, over 70 countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Mexico, the Philippines, Turkey, and Brazil are designated as Level 2 "Exercise Increased Caution" countries. Mainland China, along with North Korea, Iraq, and Iran, has been classified as Level 4 "Do Not Travel" since the 2nd.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official explained, "The U.S. Department of State frequently adjusts travel advisories based on each country's situation, and currently, over 70 countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, and France fall under Level 2 travel advisories according to various criteria."

The CDC's travel notices are divided into three levels: Level 1 Watch, Level 2 Alert, and Level 3 Warning. Additionally, there is a separate category for "Other Areas with Widespread Community Transmission." South Korea was classified as a "Community Spread Country" but was listed as a Level 2 Alert country on the 22nd. Hong Kong was classified as Level 1 Watch on the 19th, and China as Level 3 Warning on the 4th.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said regarding the CDC travel notices, "They are issued based on disease outbreak situations, natural disasters, and other factors that may affect travelers' health in each country and region," adding, "Level 2 travel notices are implemented for countries with outbreaks of diseases such as polio and yellow fever."

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is presiding over the Expanded Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting for COVID-19 response at the Seoul Situation Center in the Central Disaster and Safety Situation Room of the Government Seoul Office Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 21st. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.