'Omicron Response' All Incoming Travelers Subject to 10-Day Quarantine, Extended Until Next Month 6

Domestic and Long-term Foreign Residents 'Self-Quarantine'
Short-term Foreign Residents 'Facility Quarantine'

Entry Restrictions for Short-term Foreign Residents from 11 Countries Including South Africa

At the Asiana Airlines hangar in Jung-gu, Incheon, officials are conducting disinfection work inside the A330 aircraft to alleviate concerns about the spread of COVID-19. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Quarantine and other preventive measures, including a 10-day quarantine for all overseas arrivals to prevent the domestic influx of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, will be extended for an additional three weeks until the 6th of next month.

On the 14th, the government held the 73rd Overseas Influx Situation Assessment Meeting with related ministries and the 3rd Pan-Ministerial Task Force (TF) Meeting for New Variant Response, announcing that the previously decided measures by the 1st Pan-Ministerial Task Force for New Variant Response will be extended for three weeks from the 17th until the 6th of next month. Earlier, the government had decided on high-intensity quarantine measures, including a 10-day quarantine for all overseas arrivals for two weeks from the 3rd to the 16th to block the influx of the Omicron variant.

Accordingly, all arrivals from any country must undergo a 10-day quarantine and three rounds of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests regardless of nationality or vaccination status. However, Korean nationals and long-term foreign residents may self-quarantine, while short-term foreign residents must be quarantined in temporary living facilities. PCR tests will be conducted three times: pre-entry PCR, PCR on the first day after entry, and PCR before quarantine release. The exemption from quarantine certificates, which are limited to attending funerals, official duties, etc., will also be minimized and extended during the same period.

For regions with existing travel bubbles such as Singapore and Saipan, quarantine exemption measures will be maintained considering mutual trust between countries. However, additional preventive measures such as strengthening the requirement for PCR negative certificates will be supplemented.

Citizens are waiting to be tested at the testing center set up in the west side outdoor area on the B1 floor of Terminal 2 at Incheon International Airport. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Currently, with the prominent spread of the Omicron variant, 11 countries designated as enhanced quarantine countries, high-risk countries, or quarantine exemption exclusion countries?South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Malawi, Botswana, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana, and Zambia?will have the currently implemented stricter measures extended for the same period.

Short-term foreign residents arriving from these countries are restricted from entry. Korean nationals and long-term foreign residents cannot self-quarantine and must be quarantined in temporary living facilities for 10 days. Additionally, PCR testing will be conducted four times instead of three, with an additional test on the 5th day after entry.

Furthermore, as confirmed cases and regional spread are presumed within the African continent, direct flights from Ethiopia, which are currently suspended, will also be banned from entering the country during the same period. However, irregular flights for the transportation of Korean nationals will be arranged later through consultations with related ministries.

According to the government, Japan and Israel currently have a complete ban on entry for all foreigners until the 22nd, and Morocco until the 31st. As of the 13th, 63 countries worldwide have implemented entry bans on passengers from African countries.

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