Prime Minister Kim: "Quarantine Exemption for Overseas Vaccinated Arrivals Starting Next Month"

by Son Seonhee

Published 13 Jun.2021 15:35(KST)

COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting on COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 13th. 2021.6.13
Photo by Yonhap News

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum announced on the 13th, "Starting next month, if vaccination is completed overseas, quarantine will be exempted after screening when entering the country for visiting immediate family members, important business, academic, or public interest purposes," adding, "However, essential quarantine measures such as diagnostic testing will be maintained."

On the same day, Prime Minister Kim chaired the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting at the Government Seoul Office and said, "This measure is expected to alleviate the difficulties of overseas Koreans, international students, and businesspeople who have been unable to visit their homeland for a long time, even if only slightly." He also added, "I ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related ministries to provide advance guidance on the changed system through overseas diplomatic missions."

He further stated, "We will recognize vaccination certificates with countries where the quarantine situation is stable based on the principle of reciprocity, and negotiate to exempt quarantine for vaccinated travelers entering and leaving each country."

While the current social distancing level will be maintained for three weeks starting from the 14th, Prime Minister Kim said, "The next three weeks will also be a period to prepare for the new social distancing system reform," and urged, "Related ministries and local governments should make every effort to manage quarantine during the next three weeks."

Regarding the vaccination status, he announced, "As of the previous day, 11.8 million people, or 23% of the entire population, have completed the first dose."

Meanwhile, as President Moon Jae-in is visiting Cornwall, UK, to attend the G7 Summit as an invited guest, Prime Minister Kim said, "This has become an opportunity to lay the foundation for our country to emerge as a global vaccine hub," and added, "There were achievements in expanding cooperation in new drug development and overseas expansion of biohealth companies."