Government: "Panmunjom Tours May Resume as Early as May... Welcoming Simplified Entry Procedures" (Update)

UN Command Shortens Korean Entry Screening Period from 14 to 3 Days
Ministry of Unification "Small Group Tours to Begin as Early as This Month"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Dong-pyo] The government, in consultation with the United Nations Command, has simplified the entry procedures for Koreans at Panmunjom and plans to resume Panmunjom tours as early as May.

Yeo Sang-gi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, said at a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office that "the Ministry of Unification has been negotiating with the UN Command since the second half of last year to shorten the (screening) period required for Panmunjom tours from 14 days to 3 days for domestic visitors," adding, "The UN Command expressed last Friday (the 15th) that they can reduce the required period to 3 days."

Until now, the screening period for ordinary citizens applying for Panmunjom tours was about 14 days, while for foreigners applying through travel agencies, it took about 3 days.

Spokesperson Yeo said, "Since the inter-Korean summit at Panmunjom, the demand for visits to Panmunjom by citizens has greatly increased, and (with the reduction of the screening period) this is a very positive measure that will alleviate citizens' inconveniences."

The government plans to resume Panmunjom tours in May.

Panmunjom tours were suspended from October last year due to the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF). The Ministry of Environment plans to collect and investigate wild boar samples around mid-month, and the Ministry of Unification will decide on resumption based on this.

Spokesperson Yeo said, "The biggest issue right now is that the Panmunjom tour area is an ASF outbreak zone," adding, "If the quarantine authorities confirm the area is safe after conducting wild boar sample investigations in May, we plan to resume Panmunjom tours from that time."

He added, "Currently, whether domestic or foreign visitors, quarantine considerations arising in the Panmunjom area must be prioritized, so it is expected that tours will proceed with a small number of people for the time being."

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