Starting Tomorrow, 'No More Entry Log Writing'... QR System for Using the Vaccine Pass Will Be Maintained

Citizens are checking the validity of their quarantine passes at a restaurant in downtown Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] From the 19th, the mandatory use of entry logs such as QR codes, which were used for contact tracing management, will be completely suspended. However, the QR code system for entry to facilities subject to the vaccination certificate and negative test confirmation system (vaccine pass) will be maintained.

Lee Gi-il, the 1st Controller of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated on the 18th, "Epidemiological investigations and contact tracing management have shifted to focus on high-risk groups, and the management of entry logs for extensive contact investigations has become somewhat less effective," adding, "The mandatory entry log measure will be temporarily suspended."

Accordingly, the creation of entry logs including QR codes, Safe Call, and handwritten logs will be stopped from the 19th. However, if another variant other than Omicron emerges or if changes in the epidemic situation make it necessary to create logs, the operation may be resumed. Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Accident Response Headquarters, explained, "Under the current situation, (entry log creation) will continue to be suspended," and "Unless a new variant requiring extensive contact tracing like before appears, the suspension will be maintained."

However, since the vaccine pass system for 11 types of multi-use facilities will be maintained, presenting a vaccine pass is still required to use these facilities. In this case, the existing methods of presenting the vaccine pass, such as QR codes, the CooV app, paper certificates, and vaccination stickers, will remain unchanged.

As the vaccine pass is maintained, the entry system using QR codes will not completely disappear. Son said, "Most self-employed and small business owners find it more convenient to verify vaccination status through QR codes," and added, "The QR service itself will continue to be provided." However, while related records have been stored on the central server for contact tracing when checking in with QR codes at vaccine pass facilities, such data accumulation will no longer be done going forward.

Meanwhile, the vaccine pass for adolescents, originally scheduled to be applied from the 1st of next month, has been postponed by one month to April 1. Currently, in Seoul and Gyeonggi areas, a court decision has suspended the enforcement of the adolescent vaccine pass, and this measure was taken to prevent regional imbalance and on-site confusion if implemented from the 1st of next month.

Son explained, "The court's judgment process is currently delayed, and the appellate schedule for the adolescent vaccine pass in Seoul is somewhat postponed," adding, "Since different situations and confusion may occur by region, the implementation has been postponed by one month."

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