Health Authorities to Announce Decision on Abolishing 'Pre-Entry COVID-19 Testing' on the 31st

The government has decided to abolish the pre-entry COVID-19 test for overseas arrivals. On the 29th, the testing center at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 was crowded with passengers. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The government will make a final announcement on June 31 regarding the abolition of pre-entry COVID-19 testing.

Im Sook-young, Head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters Situation Unit, stated at a regular briefing on the 30th, "The policy related to pre-entry testing will be reported to and announced by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) tomorrow."

Currently, all entrants to the country must submit a negative result from a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken within 48 hours before entry or a professional rapid antigen test (RAT) taken within 24 hours. Additionally, a PCR test is mandatory within one day after entry.

The travel and tourism industry has pointed out the cost burden of tests taken overseas before entry and the low effectiveness due to the short interval between pre- and post-entry tests.

Among the 38 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), only South Korea and Japan currently require pre-entry testing. Japan has decided not to require pre-entry testing for individuals who have received three or more vaccine doses starting from July 7.

Previously, the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee also recommended to the government that pre-entry COVID-19 testing be abolished and replaced with testing immediately after entry.

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